Nucleic acids encoding GTPase activating proteins

ABSTRACT

The invention provides GTPase activating proteins, their encoding cDNAs, and antibodies that specifically bind the proteins. The invention also provides for the use of these compositions in the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and evaluation of progression and treatment of signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly colon cancer.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 09/507,765 filed Feb. 18, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to GTPase activating proteins, their encoding cDNAs, and antibodies that specifically bind the proteins and their use in the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and evaluation of the progression and treatment of signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly colon cancer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Guanine nucleotide binding proteins (GTP-binding proteins) are present in all eukaryotic cells and function in processes including metabolism, cellular growth, differentiation, signal transduction, cytoskeletal organization, and intracellular vesicle transport and secretion. In higher organisms they are involved in signaling that regulates such processes as the immune response (Aussel et al. (1988) J Immunol 140:215-220), apoptosis, differentiation, and cell proliferation including oncogenesis (Dhanasekaran et al. (1998) Oncogene 17:1383-1394).

[0004] The superfamily of GTP-binding proteins consists of several families and may be grouped as translational factors, heterotrimeric GTP-binding proteins (G-proteins) involved in transmembrane signaling processes, proto-oncogene Ras proteins, low molecular weight (LMW) GTP-binding proteins including the products of rab, rap, rho, rac, smg21, smg25, YPT, SEC4, and ARF genes, and tubulins (Kaziro et al. (1991) Ann Rev Biochem 60:349-400).

[0005] The LMW GTP-binding proteins are a class of small proteins of 21-30 kDa. These proteins regulate cell growth, cell cycle control, protein secretion, and intracellular vesicle interaction. In particular, LMW GTP-binding proteins activate cellular proteins by transducing mitogenic signals involved in various cell functions in response to extracellular signals from receptors (Tavitian (1995) C R Seances Soc Biol Fil 189:7-12). During this process, the hydrolysis of GTP acts as an energy source as well as the means of converting the GTP-binding protein from an active (GTP-bound) to an inactive (GDP-bound) form.

[0006] The Rho family of LMW GTP-binding proteins (Rho GTPases) includes RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42 which regulate a variety of biological events related to actin-cytoskeletal reorganization and cell proliferation. A key group of regulatory molecules for the Rho GTPases is the Rho GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). Rho GAPs preferentially recognize the GTP-bound form of a Rho GTPase and stimulate intrinsic GTPase activity to hydrolyze the bound GTP to GDP. Rho GAPs therefore function as negative regulators or suppressors of Rho GTPase by stimulating the conversion of the Rho GTPase from the active GTP-bound form to the inactive GDP-bound form (Zhang. et al. (1997) J Biol Chem 272:21999-22007).

[0007] Rho GAP proteins share an ˜170-190 amino acid homology region, designated the Rho GAP domain, that appears to contain the minimum structural requirements necessary for GAP activity (Zheng et al. (1993) J Biol Chem 24629-24634). Rho GAP proteins share 20-24% amino acid identity in this domain; however, certain specific residues are highly conserved. For example, a pair of arginine residues located near the N-terminus of the Rho GAP domain appear to be highly conserved among Rho GAP proteins and are necessary for maximum catalysis (Leonard et al. (1998) J Biol Chem 273:16210-16215). In addition, a proline-rich, SH3 domain-binding site is also found in the N-terminal region of these proteins (Leonard, supra).

[0008] The identification of genes associated with various cancers and understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis are critical to the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. In colon cancer particularly, it is known that a combination of activation of oncogenes, inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, and alteration of DNA mismatch repair genes is involved in the progression from normal mucosa to colon cancer (Fearon et al. (1990) Cell 61:759-767; Chung (1995) Gastroenterology 109:1685-1699). Recently a study was conducted which identified a specific region of chromosome 22 associated with colon cancer based on chromosomal deletions in colon tumor samples relative to normal colon mucosa (Castells et al. (1999) Gastroenterology 117:8331-837). Using microsatellite markers from chromosome 22, a minimal region of chromosomal deletion was identified between markers D22S 1171 and D22S928 covering an interval of 0.57 cM and corresponding to the cytogenetic location 22q13.33. Various genes on chromosome 22 have been proposed as candidate tumor-suppressor genes associated with colorectal carcinogenesis; however, no mutations have been found in any of these genes (Castells, supra).

[0009] The discovery of a GTPase-activating protein and a variant thereof, their encoding cDNAs, and antibodies that specifically bind the proteins satisfies a need in the art by providing compositions that are useful to diagnose, stage, treat or monitor the progression or treatment of cell signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly colon cancer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention presents GTPase-activating proteins (collectively designated GTPAP), GTPAP1 and its variant GTPAP-2, their encoding cDNAs and antibodies that specifically bind GTPAP. These compositions are used to diagnose, stage, treat or monitor the progression or treatment of cell signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders and in particular colon cancer.

[0011] The invention provides isolated cDNAs comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention also provides isolated cDNAs, and the complements thereof, comprising a polynucleotide having the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 or SEQ ID NO:29; a fragment of SEQ ID NO:28 or SEQ ID NO:29 selected from SEQ ID NOs:1-20; and a homolog of SEQ ID NO:28 or SEQ ID NO:29 selected from SEQ ID NOs:21-27. The invention further provides a probe consisting of a polynuclotide that hybridizes to the cDNA encoding GTPAP.

[0012] The invention provides a cell transformed with the cDNA encoding GTPAP, a composition comprising the cDNA encoding GTPAP and a labeling moiety; a probe comprising the cDNA encoding GTPAP, an array element comprising the cDNA encoding GTPAP and a substrate upon which the cDNA encoding GTPAP is immobilized. The composition, probe, array element or substrate can be used in methods of detection, screening, and purification. In one aspect, the probe is a single-stranded complementary RNA or DNA molecule.

[0013] The invention provides a vector containing the cDNA encoding GTPAP, a host cell containing the vector, and a method for using the host cell to make GTPAP, the method comprising culturing the host cell under conditions for expression of the protein and recovering the protein so produced from host cell culture. The invention also provides a transgenic cell line or organism comprising the vector containing the cDNA encoding GTPAP.

[0014] The invention provides a method for using a cDNA encoding GTPAP to detect the differential expression of a nucleic acid in a sample comprising hybridizing a probe to the nucleic acids, thereby forming hybridization complexes and comparing hybridization complex formation with a standard, wherein the comparison indicates the differential expression of the cDNA in the sample. In one aspect, the method of detection further comprises amplifying the nucleic acids of the sample prior to hybridization. In a second aspect, the sample is from colon. In a third aspect, comparison to standards is diagnostic of a signaling, immune, or cell proliferative disorder.

[0015] The invention provides a method for using a cDNA to screen a library or plurality of molecules or compounds to identify at least one ligand which specifically binds the cDNA, the method comprising combining the cDNA with the molecules or compounds under conditions to allow specific binding and detecting specific binding to the cDNA, thereby identifying a ligand which specifically binds the cDNA. In one aspect, the molecules or compounds are selected from antisense molecules, branched nucleic acids, DNA molecules, peptides, proteins, RNA molecules, and transcription factors. The invention also provides a method for using a cDNA to purify a ligand which specifically binds the cDNA, the method comprising attaching the cDNA to a substrate, contacting the cDNA with a sample under conditions to allow specific binding, and dissociating the ligand from the cDNA, thereby obtaining purified ligand. The invention further provides a method for assessing efficacy or toxicity of a molecule or compound comprising treating a sample containing nucleic acids with the molecule or compound; hybridizing the nucleic acids with the cDNA encoding GTPAP under conditions for hybridization complex formation; determining the amount of complex formation; and comparing the amount of complex formation in the treated sample with the amount of complex formation in an untreated sample, wherein a difference in complex formation indicates the efficacy or toxicity of the molecule or compound.

[0016] The invention provides a purified protein comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention also provides antigenic epitopes extending from about residue G₂₇ to about residue P₄₅ of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention additionally provides biologically active peptides extending from about residue P₂₁₀ to about residue A₂₃₅ and from about residue L₃₁₀ to about residue L₃₅₀ of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention further provides a variant having at least 65% homology to the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention still further provides a composition comprising the purified protein and a pharmaceutical carrier, a composition comprising the protein and a labeling moiety, a substrate upon which the protein is immobilized, and an array element comprising the protein. The invention yet further provides a method for detecting expression of a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31 in a sample, the method comprising performing an assay to determine the amount of the protein in a sample; and comparing the amount of protein to standards, thereby detecting expression of the protein in the sample. The invention yet still further provides a method for diagnosing cancer comprising performing an assay to quantify the amount of the protein expressed in a sample and comparing the amount of protein expressed to standards, thereby diagnosing a signaling, immune, or cell proliferative disorder. In a one aspect, the assay is selected from antibody or protein arrays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, spatial immobilization such as 2D-PAGE and scintillation counting, high performance liquid chromatography or mass spectrophotometry, radioimmunoassays, and western analysis. In a second aspect, the sample is from colon.

[0017] The invention provides a method for using a protein to screen a library or a plurality of molecules or compounds to identify at least one ligand, the method comprising combining the protein with the molecules or compounds under conditions to allow specific binding and detecting specific binding, thereby identifying a ligand which specifically binds the protein. In one aspect, the molecules or compounds are selected from agonists, antagonists, DNA molecules, small drug molecules, immunoglobulins, inhibitors, mimetics, multispecific molecules, peptides, pharmaceutical agents, proteins, and RNA molecules. In another aspect, the ligand is used to treat a subject with a signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorder. The invention also provides an therapeutic antibody that specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention further provides an antagonist which specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention yet further provides a small drug molecule which specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31. The invention also provides a method for testing ligand for effectiveness as an agonist or antagonist comprising exposing a sample comprising the protein to the molecule or compound, and detecting agonist or antagonist activity in the sample.

[0018] The invention provides a method for using a protein to screen a plurality of antibodies to identify an antibody that specifically binds the protein comprising contacting a plurality of antibodies with the protein under conditions to form an antibody:protein complex, and dissociating the antibody from the antibody:protein complex, thereby obtaining antibody that specifically binds the protein. In one aspect the antibodies are selected from intact immunoglobulin molecule, a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a multispecific molecule, a chimeric antibody, a recombinant antibody, a humanized antibody, single chain antibodies, a Fab fragment, an F(ab′)₂ fragment, an Fv fragment, and an antibody-peptide fusion protein. The invention provides purified antibodies which bind specifically to a protein.

[0019] The invention also provides methods for using a protein to prepare and purify polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies which specifically bind the protein. The method for preparing a polyclonal antibody comprises immunizing a animal with protein under conditions to elicit an antibody response, isolating animal antibodies, attaching the protein to a substrate, contacting the substrate with isolated antibodies under conditions to allow specific binding to the protein, dissociating the antibodies from the protein, thereby obtaining purified polyclonal antibodies. The method for preparing a monoclonal antibodies comprises immunizing a animal with a protein under conditions to elicit an antibody response, isolating antibody producing cells from the animal, fusing the antibody producing cells with immortalized cells in culture to form monoclonal antibody producing hybridoma cells, culturing the hybridoma cells, and isolating monoclonal antibodies from culture.

[0020] The invention also provides a method for using an antibody to detect expression of a protein in a sample, the method comprising combining the antibody with a sample under conditions for formation of antibody:protein complexes, and detecting complex formation, wherein complex formation indicates expression of the protein in the sample. In one aspect, the sample is from colon. In a second aspect, complex formation is compared to standards and is diagnostic of a signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorder.

[0021] The invention provides a method for immunopurification of a protein comprising attaching an antibody to a substrate, exposing the antibody to a sample containing the protein under conditions to allow antibody:protein complexes to form, dissociating the protein from the complex, and collecting purified protein. The invention also provides a composition comprising an antibody that specifically binds the protein and a labeling moiety or pharmaceutical agent; a kit comprising the composition; an array element comprising the antibody; and a substrate upon which the antibody is immobilized. The invention further provides a method for using a antibody to assess efficacy of a molecule or compound, the method comprising treating a sample containing protein with a molecule or compound; contacting the protein in the sample with the antibody under conditions for complex formation; determining the amount of complex formation; and comparing the amount of complex formation in the treated sample with the amount of complex formation in an untreated sample, wherein a difference in complex formation indicates efficacy of the molecule or compound.

[0022] The invention provides a method for treating a signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorder comprising administering to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention a therapeutic antibody that specifically binds the protein, a multispecific molecule that specifically binds the protein, and a multispecific molecule that specifically binds the protein, or a composition comprising an antibody that specifically binds the protein and a pharmaceutical agent. The invention also provides a method for delivering a pharmaceutical or therapeutic agent to a cell comprising attaching the pharmaceutical or therapeutic agent to a multispecific molecule that specifically binds the protein and administering the multi specific molecule to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention, wherein the multispecific molecule delivers the pharmaceutical or therapeutic agent to the cell. In one aspect, the protein is active in a signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorder.

[0023] The invention provides an agonist that specifically binds the protein, and a composition comprising the agonist and a pharmaceutical carrier. The invention also provides an antagonist that specifically binds the protein, and a composition comprising the antagonist and a pharmaceutical carrier. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical agent or a small drug molecule that specifically binds the protein.

[0024] The invention provides an antisense molecule of at least 18 nucleotides in length that specifically binds a portion of a polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 or SEQ ID NO:29 wherein the antisense molecule inhibits expression of the protein encoded by the polynucleotide. The invention also provides an antisense molecule with at least one modified internucleoside linkage or at least one nucleotide analog. The invention further provides that the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage and that the modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.

[0025] The invention provides a method for inserting a heterologous marker gene into the genomic DNA of a mammal to disrupt the expression of the endogenous polynucleotide. The invention also provides a method for using a cDNA to produce a mammalian model system, the method comprising constructing a vector containing the cDNA selected from SEQ ID NOs:1-29, transforming the vector into an embryonic stem cell, selecting a transformed embryonic stem cell, microinjecting the transformed embryonic stem cell into a mammalian blastocyst, thereby forming a chimeric blastocyst, transferring the chimeric blastocyst into a pseudopregnant dam, wherein the dam gives birth to a chimeric offspring containing the cDNA in its germ line, and breeding the chimeric mammal to produce a homozygous, mammalian model system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] Table 1 shows the tools, programs, and algorithms used to analyze GTPAP, along with applicable descriptions, references, and threshold parameters.

[0027] FIGS. 1A-1E show the human protein (SEQ ID NO:30) encoded by the human cDNA (SEQ ID NO:28). The alignment was produced using MACDNASIS PRO software (Hitachi Software Engineering, South San Francisco Calif.).

[0028] FIGS. 2A-2E show the human nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:29 encoding the human amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31. The alignment was produced using MACDNASIS PRO software (Hitachi Software Engineering)

[0029] FIGS. 3A-3D demonstrate the chemical and structural similarity among human RhoGAP proteins, GTPAP2 (Incyte ID 404424; SEQ ID NO:31), GTPAP1 (Incyte ID 3068538; SEQ ID NO:30), Rho GTPase activating protein 8 (GI 6572185; SEQ ID NO:32), and rhoGAP protein (GI 312212; SEQ ID NO:33). The alignments were produced using the MEGALIGN program (DNASTAR, Madison Wis.)

[0030]FIGS. 4A and 4B demonstrate the alignments among nucleic acid sequences encoding GTPAP and indicating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a Δ. The alignments were produced using PHRAP software (Phil Green, University of Washington, Seattle Wash.).

[0031] FIGS. 5A-5E show the alignments among the full length cDNA encoding GTPAP (SEQ ID NO:28); and the rat cDNAs (SEQ ID NOs:21-27) produced using PHRAP software (Green, supra).

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] It is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular machines, materials and methods described. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, a reference to “a host cell” includes a plurality of such host cells known to those skilled in the art.

[0033] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All publications mentioned herein are cited for the purpose of describing and disclosing the cell lines, protocols, reagents and vectors which are reported in the publications and which might be used in connection with the invention. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the invention is not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

[0034] Definitions

[0035] “Antibody” refers to intact immunoglobulin molecule, a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a recombinant antibody, a humanized antibody, single chain antibodies, a Fab fragment, an F(ab′)₂ fragment, an Fv fragment, and an antibody-peptide fusion protein.

[0036] “Antigenic determinant” refers to an antigenic or immunogenic epitope, structural feature, or region of an oligopeptide, peptide, or protein which is capable of inducing formation of an antibody that specifically binds the protein. Biological activity is not a prerequisite for immunogenicity.

[0037] “Array” refers to an ordered arrangement of at least two cDNAs, proteins, or antibodies on a substrate. At least one of the cDNAs, proteins, or antibodies represents a control or standard, and the other cDNA, protein, or antibody is of diagnostic or therapeutic interest. The arrangement of at least two and up to about 40,000 cDNAs, proteins, or antibodies on the substrate assures that the size and signal intensity of each labeled complex, formed between each cDNA and at least one nucleic acid, each protein and at least one ligand or antibody, or each antibody and at least one protein to which the antibody specifically binds, is individually distinguishable.

[0038] A “cancer” refers to an adenocarcinoma, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, myeloma, sarcoma, teratocarcinoma, and tumors of the adrenal gland, bladder, bone, bone marrow, brain, breast, cervix, colon, esophagus, gallbladder, ganglia, heart, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid, penis, pituitary gland, prostate, salivary glands, skin, small intestine, spleen, stomach, testis, thymus, thyroid, and uterus.

[0039] A “cell proliferative disorder” includes arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, and cancers including adenocarcinoma, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, myeloma, sarcoma, teratocarcinoma, and, in particular, cancer of the colon.

[0040] A “cell signaling disorder” includes endocrine conditions such as disorders of the 1) hypothalamus and pituitary resulting from lesions such as primary brain tumors, adenomas, hypophysectomy, aneurysms, vascular malformations, thrombosis, and complications due to head trauma; 2) pituitary, in particular, including acromegaly, giantism, and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion (SIADH); and 3) thyroid including goiter, myxedema, acute thyroiditis associated with bacterial infection; and chronic hypercalemia.

[0041] The “complement” of a cDNA of the Sequence Listing refers to a nucleic acid molecule which is completely complementary over its full length and which will hybridize to a nucleic acid molecule under conditions of high stringency.

[0042] “cDNA” refers to an isolated polynucleotide, nucleic acid molecule, or any fragment thereof that contains from about 400 to about 12,000 nucleotides. It may have originated recombinantly or synthetically, may be double-stranded or single-stranded, may represent coding and noncoding 3′ or 5′ sequence, and generally lacks introns.

[0043] The phrase “cDNA encoding a protein” refers to a nucleic acid whose sequence closely aligns with sequences that encode conserved regions, motifs or domains identified by employing analyses well known in the art. These analyses include BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool; Altschul (1993) J Mol Evol 36:290-300; Altschul et al. (1990) J Mol Biol 215:403410) and BLAST2 (Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res 25:3389-3402) which provide identity within the conserved region. Brenner et al. (1998; Proc Natl Acad Sci 95:6073-6078) who analyzed BLAST for its ability to identify structural homologs by sequence identity found 30% identity is a reliable threshold for sequence alignments of at least 150 residues and 40% is a reasonable threshold for alignments of at least 70 residues (Brenner, supra, page 6076, column 2).

[0044] A “composition” refers to the polynucleotide and a labeling moiety; a purified protein and a pharmaceutical carrier or a heterologous, labeling or purification moiety; an antibody and a labeling moiety or pharmaceutical agent; and the like.

[0045] “Derivative” refers to a cDNA or a protein that has been subjected to a chemical modification. Derivatization of a cDNA can involve substitution of a nontraditional base such as queosine or of an analog such as hypoxanthine. These substitutions are well known in the art. Derivatization of a cDNA or a protein can also involve the replacement of a hydrogen by an acetyl, acyl, alkyl, amino, formyl, or morpholino group (for example, 5-methylcytosine). Derivative molecules retain the biological activities of the naturally occurring molecules but may confer longer lifespan or enhanced activity.

[0046] “Differential expression” refers to an increased or upregulated or a decreased or downregulated expression as detected by absence, presence, or at least two-fold change in the amount of messenger RNA or protein in a sample.

[0047] “Disorder” refers to conditions, diseases or syndromes in which the cDNAs and GTPAP are differentially expressed—signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly colon cancer.

[0048] An “expression profile” is a representation of gene expression in a sample. A nucleic acid expression profile is produced using sequencing, hybridization, or amplification (quantitative PCR) technologies and mRNAs or cDNAs from a sample. A protein expression profile, although time delayed, mirrors the nucleic acid expression profile and may use antibody or protein arrays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, spatial immobilization such as 2D-PAGE in conjunction with a scintillation counter, mass spectrophotometry, or western analysis or affinity chromatography, to detect protein expression in a sample. The nucleic acids, proteins, or antibodies may be used in solution or attached to a substrate, and their detection is based on methods and labeling moieties well known in the art. Expression profiles may also be evaluated by methods such as electronic northern analysis, guilt-by-association, and transcript imaging. Expression profiles produced using any of the above methods may be compared with expression profiles produced using normal or diseased tissues. The correspondence between mRNA and protein expression has been discussed by Zweiger (2001, Transducing the Genome. McGraw-Hill, San Francisco, Calif.) and Glavas et al. (2001; T cell activation upregulates cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases 8A1 and 7A3, Proc Natl Acad Sci 98:6319-6342) among others.

[0049] “Fragment” refers to a chain of consecutive nucleotides from about 50 to about 5000 base pairs in length. Fragments may be used in PCR or hybridization technologies to identify related nucleic acid molecules and in binding assays to screen for a ligand. Such ligands are useful pharmaceutically to regulate replication, transcription or translation.

[0050] “Guilt-by-association” (GBA) is a method for identifying cDNAs or proteins that are associated with a specific disease, regulatory pathway, subcellular compartment, cell type, tissue type, or species by their highly significant co-expression with known markers or therapeutics.

[0051] A “hybridization complex” is formed between a cDNA and a nucleic acid of a sample when the purines of one molecule hydrogen bond with the pyrimidines of the complementary molecule, e.g., 5′-A-G-T-C-3′ base pairs with 3′-T-C-A-G-5′. Hybridization conditions, degree of complementarity and the use of nucleotide analogs affect the efficiency and stringency of hybridization reactions.

[0052] “Identity” as applied to sequences, refers to the quantification (usually percentage) of nucleotide or residue matches between at least two sequences aligned using a standardized algorithm such as Smith-Waterman alignment (Smith and Waterman (1981) J Mol Biol 147:195-197), CLUSTALW (Thompson et al. (1994) Nucleic Acids Res 22:4673-4680), or BLAST2 (Altschul (1997, supra). BLAST2 may be used in a standardized and reproducible way to insert gaps in one of the sequences in order to optimize alignment and to achieve a more meaningful comparison between them. “Similarity” uses the same algorithms but takes conservative substitution of residues into account. In proteins, similarity exceeds identity in that substitution of a valine for a leucine or isoleucine, is counted in calculating the reported percentage. Substitutions which are considered to be conservative are well known in the art.

[0053] “Isolated or “purified” refers to any molecule or compound that is separated from its natural environment and is from about 60% free to about 90% free from other components with which it is naturally associated.

[0054] An “immune disorder” includes inflammation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, asthma, cholecystitis, cirrhosis, Crohn's disease, diabetes mellitus, emphysema, hypereosinophilia, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, myocardial or pericardial inflammation, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, pancreatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and ulcerative colitis.

[0055] “Labeling moiety” refers to any reporter molecule including radionuclides, enzymes, fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or chromogenic agents, substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, or magnetic particles than can be attached to or incorporated into a polynucleotide, protein, or antibody. Visible labels and dyes include but are not limited to anthocyanins, β glucuronidase, biotin, BIODIPY, Coomassie blue, Cy3 and Cy5, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), digoxigenin, fluorescein, iFITC, gold, green fluorescent protein, lissamine, luciferase, phycoerythrin, rhodamine, spyro red, silver, streptavidin, and the like. Radioactive markers include radioactive forms of hydrogen, iodine, phosphorous, sulfur, and the like.

[0056] “Ligand” refers to any agent, molecule, or compound which will bind specifically to a polynucleotide or to an epitope of a protein. Such ligands stabilize or modulate the activity of polynucleotides or proteins and may be composed of inorganic and/or organic substances including minerals, cofactors, nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and lipids.

[0057] “GTPAP” refers to a purified protein obtained from any mammalian species, including bovine, canine, murine, ovine, porcine, rodent, simian, and preferably the human species, and from any source, whether natural, synthetic, semi-synthetic, or recombinant.

[0058] A “multispecific molecule” has multiple binding specificities, can bind at least two distinct epitopes or molecules, one of which may be a molecule on the surface of a cell. Antibodies can perform as or be a part of a multispecific molecule.

[0059] “Oligonucleotide” refers a single-stranded molecule from about 18 to about 60 nucleotides in length which may be used in hybridization or amplification technologies or in regulation of replication, transcription or translation. Equivalent terms are amplicon, amplimer, primer, and oligomer.

[0060] A “pharmaceutical agent” or “therapeutic agent” may be an antibody, an antisense or RNAi molecule, a multispecific molecule, a peptide, a protein, a radionuclide, a small drug molecule, a cytospecific or cytotoxic drug such as abrin, actinomyosin D, cisplatin, crotin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, ricin, vincristine, vinblastine, or any combination of these elements.

[0061] “Post-translational modification” of a protein can involve lipidation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, acetylation, racemization, proteolytic cleavage, and the like. These processes may occur synthetically or biochemically. Biochemical modifications will vary by cellular location, cell type, pH, enzymatic milieu, and the like.

[0062] “Probe” refers to a cDNA that hybridizes to at least one nucleic acid in a sample. Where targets are single-stranded, probes are complementary single strands. Probes can be labeled with reporter molecules for use in hybridization reactions including Southern, northern, in situ, dot blot, array, and like technologies or in screening assays.

[0063] “Protein” refers to a polypeptide or any portion thereof. A “portion” of a protein refers to that length of amino acid sequence which would retain at least one biological activity, a domain identified by PFAM or PRINTS analysis or an antigenic determinant of the protein identified using Kyte-Doolittle algorithms of the PROTEAN program (DNASTAR, Madison Wis.). An “oligopeptide” is an amino acid sequence from about five residues to about 25 residues that is used as part of a fusion protein to produce an antibody.

[0064] “Sample” is used in its broadest sense and may comprise a bodily fluid such as ascites, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, lymph, semen, sputum, urine and the like; the soluble fraction of a cell preparation, or an aliquot of media in which cells were grown; a chromosome, an organelle, or membrane isolated or extracted from a cell; genomic DNA, RNA, or cDNA in solution or bound to a substrate; a cell; a tissue, a tissue biopsy, or a tissue print; buccal cells, skin, hair, a hair follicle; and the like.

[0065] “Specific binding” refers to a precise interaction between two molecules which is dependent upon their structure, particularly their molecular side groups. For example, the intercalation of a regulatory protein into the major groove of a DNA molecule or the binding between an epitope of a protein and an agonist, antagonist, or antibody.

[0066] “Substrate” refers to any rigid or semi-rigid support to which polynucleotides, proteins, or antibodies are bound and includes magnetic or nonmagnetic beads, capillaries or other tubing, chips, fibers, filters, gels, membranes, plates, polymers, slides, wafers, and microparticles with a variety of surface forms including channels, columns, pins, pores, trenches, and wells.

[0067] A “transcript image” (TI) is a profile of gene transcription activity in a particular tissue at a particular time. TI provides assessment of the relative abundance of expressed polynucleotides in the cDNA libraries of an EST database as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,484, incorporated herein by reference.

[0068] “Variant” refers to molecules that are recognized variations of a protein or the polynucleotides that encode it. Splice variants may be determined by BLAST score, wherein the score is at least 100, and most preferably at least 400. Allelic variants have a high percent identity to the cDNAs and may differ by about three bases per hundred bases. “Single nucleotide polymorphism” (SNP) refers to a change in a single base as a result of a substitution, insertion or deletion. The change may be conservative (purine for purine) or non-conservative (purine to pyrimidine) and may or may not result in a change in an encoded amino acid or its secondary, tertiary, or quaternary structure.

[0069] The Invention

[0070] The invention is based on the discovery of GTPase activating proteins, their encoding cDNAs, and antibodies which specifically bind the proteins. These compositions can be used in the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and evaluation of progression and treatment of signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly colon cancer. U.S. Ser. No. 09/507,765, filed Feb. 18, 2000, is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

[0071] The cDNA encoding GTPAP1 of the present invention was first identified in Incyte Clone 3068538H1 from the uterine cDNA library, UTRSNOR01, using a computer search for sequence alignments. The full length cDNA, SEQ ID NO:28, was derived from sequence fragments of the cDNAs of SEQ ID NOs:1-7 which are further characterized in the table below. SEQ ID NOs:8-20 and 29 are human homologs of SEQ ID NO:28 and were identified by comparing the sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 with cDNA sequence fragments in the LIFESEQ and ZOOSEQ databases (Incyte Genomics, Palo Alto Calif.). SEQ ID NO:29 encodes the variant, GTPAP2, having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31.

[0072] The alignment table below compares of all of the nucleic acid sequences of the Sequence Listing with SEQ ID NO:28. Column one of the table shows SEQ ID NO; column two, Incyte ID; column three, the library from which the cDNA originated; column four, the percent identity to SEQ ID NO:28; and column five, the nucleotide alignment to SEQ ID NO:28. SEQ ID Incyte ID Library % Identity Alignment 1 908465R2 COLNNOT09 96  788-1270 2 957130R6 KIDNNOT05 100 1008-1230 3 1580628H1 DUODNOT01 94 536-731 4 2631247F6 COLNTUT15 98 369-857 5 3068538H1 UTRSNOR01 94  25-283 6 3532286T6 KIDNNOT25 96 1087-1480 7 1301520F6 BRSTNOT07 99 1018-1536 8 2465422F6 THYRNOT08 52 213-694 9 957130X313V1 KIDNNOT05 91  520-1208 10 1580545H1 DUODNOT01 98 536-730 11 1891457H1 BLADTUT07 99 586-868 12 4649657H1 PROSTUT04 99 701-969 13 4002758H1 HNT2AZS07 95  877-1151 14 957130R1 KIDNNOT05 98 1008-1402 15 2624365T6 KERANOT02 99  945-1516 16 2044444H1 HIPONON02 99  945-1213 17 3416883T6 PTHYNOT04 99 1008-1502 18 1301520T6 BRSTNOT07 99 1018-1502 19 1301520H1 BRSTNOT07 100 1018-1264 20 1422635X305D1 KIDNNOT09 98 1038-1557 21 701244926H1 RALINOH02 59  1-194 22 700950169H2 RASPNON02 65  1-264 23 701575974H1 RALITXT25 83 639-963 24 701274036H1 RABFNON02 64 727-983 25 700480528H1 RALINON03 69 1033-1228 26 700935753H1 RALINON03 75 1112-1326 27 700936061H1 RALINON03 94 1112-1365 29 404424.5 99   1-1538

[0073] In one embodiment, the invention encompasses a protein, GTPAP1, comprising the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30, as shown in FIGS. 1A-1E. GTPAP1 is 433 amino acids in length and has a potential N-linked glycosylation site at N₃₃₈. Potential protein kinase phosphorylation sites are found for casein kinase II at S₁₆₉, T₂₃₉, T₂₉₂, S₃₀₉, and S₃₈₂, for protein kinase C at S₁₂₉, T₂₃₉, and S₂₉₇, and for tyrosine kinase at Y₆₀, Y₁₀₁, and Y₃₁₅. BLIMPS_PFAM analysis identified an RHG5 GTPase-activator protein signature from amino acid residues D₂₆₀ through P₂₇₆. BLIMPS_PRODOM identified two protein GTPase-activator domains from P₂₁₀ through A₂₃₅ and from L₃₁₀ through L₃₅₀. BLAST_PRODOM analysis also identified homology to an RHG5 RhoGAP protein from L₈ through S₁₆₉ with a probability score of p=4.3⁻⁶⁰, and to a P50-RhoGAP from T₁₇₅ through P₃₈₇ with a probability score of p=7.9⁻²⁹.

[0074] In another embodiment, the invention encompasses a protein, GTPAP2, comprising the polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31, as shown in FIGS. 2A-2E. GTPAP2 is also 433 amino acids in length and shares the same glycosylation sites, phosphorylation sites, motifs and signature sequences as GTPAP1. Biologically active peptides extend from about residue L8 to about residue S₁₆₉, from about residue P₂₁₀ to about residue A₂₃₅ and from about residue L₃₁₀ to about residue L₃₅₀Of SEQ ID NO:30 and SEQ ID NO:31. An antigenic epitope useful for identifying GTPAP extends from about residue G₂₇ to about P₄₅ of SEQ ID NO:30 and SEQ ID NO:31.

[0075] FIGS. 3A-3D show that GTPAP1 shares sequence homology with GTPAP2 (Incyte ID 404424.5; SEQ ID NO:31), human RhoGAP protein 8 (GI 6572185:SEQ ID NO:32), and human RhoGAP protein (GI 312212; SEQ ID NO:33). In particular, GTPAP1 and GTPAP2 share 99.8% amino acid identity, differing in only one amino acid residue at position 302 in which an arginine residue in GTPAP2 is substituted for a glycine residue at that position in GTPAP1. It is also noted that the single amino acid change at position 302 is a non-conservative change that occurs in the Rho GAP domain. This substitution results from a single nucleotide polymorphism in the codon for the amino acid at that position (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). GTPAP1 is identical to GI 6572185 from residues Y₁₀₁ through L₄₃₃ of GTPAP1, however GTPAP1 contains an additional 100 amino acid residues on the N-terminus of the protein. GTPAP1 also shares 49.2% identity with GI 312212. The four proteins share a proline-rich region from about amino acid residue P₁₇₆ through P₁₈₉ of GTPAP1, the SH3 domain-binding site. The four proteins also share substantial homology in the C-terminal region containing the Rho GAP domain. In particular, the two arginine residues associated with the catalytic activity in GAP proteins contained in the sequence F₂₃₁RRS of GTPAP1, are conserved in all four proteins.

[0076]FIGS. 4A and 4B show the nucleotide alignments among the cDNAs encoding GTPAP1 (3068538:SEQ ID NO:28) and GTPAP2 (404424.5:SEQ ID NO:29), and the sequence fragments from Incyte cDNA clones, SEQ ID NOs:1-20. In particular, the alignment shows SNPs identified by a delta (Δ). FIG. 4A demonstrates a SNP at nucleotide position 662 showing a non-conservative change from T to A in GTPAP2 relative to GTAP1. This change is supported by 2 of 6 clones containing T in this position, and 4 of 6 clones containing A in this position. The SNPs at positions 1013 and 1020 are marked in FIG. 4B. The SNP at position 1013 shows a conservative change of T to C in GTPAP2 and is supported by 2 of 12 clones containing a C in this position compared with 10 of 12 clones containing a T in this position. The SNP at position 1020 shows a non-conservative change of G to C in GTPAP2 and is also supported by 2 of 12 clones containing a C in this position compared with 7 of 12 clones containing G in this position. The SNPs at positions 1013 and 1020 are particularly significant because: 1) they are relatively rare, being found in only {fraction (2/12)} or 17% of the sequence fragments encompassing this region, and 2) the SNP at position 1020 results in the non-conservative change from glycine in GTPAP1 to arginine in GTPAP2. The change at position 1020 has potential consequences on catalytic activity of the encoded protein.

[0077] Additional cDNAs encoding the GTPase activating protein of the present invention were identified by using BLAST or BLAST2 and the ZOOSEQ database (Incyte Genomics) to align rat, mouse, and monkey cDNA sequence fragments with SEQ ID NO:28 and SEQ ID NO:29. FIGS. 5A-5E show the alignments among SEQ ID NO:28 and the rat cDNAs, SEQ ID NOs:21-27. The rat cDNAs registered a BLAST score of at least 100 relative to the human sequences and are shown in the alignment table above. These mammalian cDNAs may be used to produce transgenic cell lines or organisms which are model systems for a signaling, immune, or cell proliferative disorder and upon which the toxicity and efficacy of potential therapeutic treatments may be tested. Toxicology studies, clinical trials, and subject/patient treatment profiles may be performed and monitored using the cDNAs, proteins, antibodies and molecules and compounds identified using the cDNAs and proteins of the present invention.

[0078] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that as a result of the degeneracy of the genetic code, a multitude of cDNAs encoding GTPAP, some bearing minimal similarity to the cDNAs of any known and naturally occurring gene, may be produced. Thus, the invention contemplates each and every possible variation of cDNA that could be made by selecting combinations based on possible codon choices. These combinations are made in accordance with the standard triplet genetic code as applied to the polynucleotides encoding naturally occurring GTPAP, and all such variations are to be considered as being specifically disclosed.

[0079] Characterization and Use of the Invention

[0080] cDNA Libraries

[0081] In a particular embodiment disclosed herein, mRNA is isolated from mammalian cells and tissues using methods which are well known to those skilled in the art and used to prepare the cDNA libraries. The Incyte cDNAs were isolated from mammalian cDNA libraries prepared as described in the EXAMPLES I-III. The consensus sequence is present in a single clone insert, or chemically assembled based on the electronic assembly from sequenced fragments including Incyte cDNAs and extension and/or shotgun sequences. Computer programs, such as PHRAP (Green, supra) and the AUTOASSEMBLER application (Applied Biosystems (ABI), Foster City Calif.) are used in sequence assembly and are described in EXAMPLE VI. After verification of the 5′ and 3′ sequence, at least one representative cDNA which encodes GTPAP is designated a reagent for research and development.

[0082] Sequencing

[0083] Methods for sequencing nucleic acids are well known in the art and may be used to practice any of the embodiments of the invention. These methods employ enzymes such as the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, SEQUENASE, Taq DNA polymerase and thermostable T7 DNA polymerase (Amersham Biosciences (APB), Piscataway N.J.), or combinations of polymerases and proofreading exonucleases (Invitrogen, Carlsbad Calif.). Sequence preparation is automated with machines such as the MICROLAB 2200 system (Hamilton, Reno Nev.) and the DNA ENGINE thermal cycler (MJ Research, Watertown Mass.) and sequencing, with the PRISM 3700, 377 or 373 DNA sequencing systems (ABI) or the MEGABACE 1000 DNA sequencing system (APB).

[0084] After sequencing, sequence fragments are assembled to obtain and verify the sequence of the full length cDNA. The full length sequence usually resides in a single clone insert which may contain up to 5000 bases. Since sequencing reactions generally reveal no more than 700 bases per reaction, it is more often than not necessary to carry out several sequencing reactions, and procedures such as shotgun sequencing or PCR extension, in order to obtain the full length sequence.

[0085] Shotgun sequencing involves randomly breaking the original insert into segments of various sizes and cloning these fragments into vectors. The fragments are sequenced and reassembled using overlapping ends until the entire sequence of the original insert is known. Shotgun sequencing methods are well known in the art and use thermostable DNA polymerases, heat-labile DNA polymerases, and primers chosen from representative regions flanking the cDNAs of interest. Incomplete assembled sequences are inspected for identity using various algorithms or programs such as CONSED (Gordon (1998) Genome Res 8:195-202) which are well known in the art.

[0086] PCR-based methods may be used to extend the sequences of the invention. PCR extension is described in EXAMPLE IV.

[0087] The nucleic acid sequences of the cDNAs presented in the Sequence Listing were prepared by automated methods and may contain occasional sequencing errors and unidentified nucleotides, designated with an N, that reflect state-of-the-art technology at the time the cDNA was sequenced. Vector, linker, and polyA sequences were masked using algorithms and programs based on BLAST, dynamic programming, and dinucleotide nearest neighbor analysis. Ns and SNPs can be verified either by resequencing the cDNA or using algorithms to compare multiple sequences that overlap the area in which the Ns or SNP occur. Both of these techniques are well known to and used by those skilled in the art. The sequences may be analyzed using a variety of algorithms described in Ausubel et al. (1997; Short Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York N.Y., unit 7.7) and in Meyers (1995; Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Wiley VCH, New York N.Y., pp. 856-853).

[0088] Hybridization

[0089] The cDNA and fragments thereof can be used in hybridization technologies for various purposes. A probe may be designed or derived from unique regions such as the 5′ regulatory region or from a nonconserved region (i.e., 5′ or 3′ of the nucleotides encoding the conserved catalytic domain of the protein) and used in protocols to identify naturally occurring molecules encoding GTPAP, allelic variants, or related molecules. The probe may be DNA or RNA, may be single-stranded, and should have at least 50% sequence identity to any of the nucleic acid sequences, SEQ ID NOs:1-29. Hybridization probes may be produced using oligolabeling, nick-translation, end-labeling, or PCR amplification in the presence of a reporter molecule. A vector containing the cDNA or a fragment thereof may be used to produce an mRNA probe in vitro by addition of an RNA polymerase and labeled nucleotides. These procedures may be conducted using kits such as those provided by APB.

[0090] The stringency of hybridization is determined by G+C content of the probe, salt concentration, and temperature. In particular, stringency can be increased by reducing the concentration of salt or raising the hybridization temperature. Hybridization techniques are well known in the art, have been described in Example VII, and are reviewed in Ausubel (supra) and Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Plainview N.Y.

[0091] Arrays may be prepared and analyzed using methods well known in the art. Oligonucleotides or cDNAs may be used as hybridization probes or targets to monitor the expression level of large numbers of genes simultaneously or to identify genetic variants, mutations, and single nucleotide polymorphisms. Arrays may be used to determine gene function; to understand the genetic basis of a condition, disease, or disorder; to diagnose a condition, disease, or disorder; and to develop and monitor the activities of therapeutic agents. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,796; Schena et al. (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci 93:10614-10619; Heller et al. (1997) Proc Natl Acad Sci 94:2150-2155; U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,662.

[0092] Hybridization probes are also useful in mapping the naturally occurring genomic sequence. The probes may be hybridized to a particular chromosome, a specific region of a chromosome, or an artificial chromosome construction. Such constructions include human artificial chromosomes, yeast artificial chromosomes, bacterial artificial chromosomes, bacterial P1 constructions, or the cDNAs of libraries made from single chromosomes.

[0093] QPCR

[0094] QPCR is a method for quantifying a nucleic acid molecule based on detection of a fluorescent signal produced during PCR amplification (Gibson et al. (1996) Genome Res 6:995-1001; Heid et al. (1996) Genome Res 6:986-994). Amplification is carried out on machines such as the PRISM 7700 detection system (ABI) which consists of a 96-well thermal cycler connected to a laser and charge-coupled device (CCD) optics system. To perform QPCR, a PCR reaction is carried out in the presence of a doubly labeled probe. The probe, which is designed to anneal between the standard forward and reverse PCR primers, is labeled at the 5′ end by a fluorogenic reporter dye such as 6-carboxyfluorescein (6-FAM) and at the 3′ end by a quencher molecule such as 6-carboxy-tetramethyl-rhodamine (TAMRA). As long as the probe is intact, the 3′ quencher extinguishes fluorescence by the 5′ reporter. However, during each primer extension cycle, the annealed probe is degraded as a result of the intrinsic 5′ to 3′ nuclease activity of Taq polymerase (Holland et al. (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci 88:7276-7280). This degradation separates the reporter from the quencher, and fluorescence is detected every few seconds by the CCD. The higher the starting copy number of the nucleic acid, the sooner an increase in fluorescence is observed. A cycle threshold (C_(T)) value, representing the cycle number at which the PCR product crosses a fixed threshold of detection is determined by the instrument software. The C_(T) is inversely proportional to the copy number of the template and can therefore be used to calculate either the relative or absolute initial concentration of the nucleic acid molecule in the sample. The relative concentration of two different molecules can be calculated by determining their respective C_(T) values (comparative C_(T) method). Alternatively, the absolute concentration of the nucleic acid molecule can be calculated by constructing a standard curve using a housekeeping molecule of known concentration. The process of calculating C_(T) values, preparing a standard curve, and determining starting copy number is performed using SEQUENCE DETECTOR 1.7 software (ABI).

[0095] Expression

[0096] Any one of a multitude of cDNAs encoding GTPAP may be cloned into a vector and used to express the protein, or portions thereof, in host cells. The nucleic acid sequence can be engineered by such methods as DNA shuffling (U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,721) and site-directed mutagenesis to create new restriction sites, alter glycosylation patterns, change codon preference to increase expression in a particular host, produce splice variants, extend half-life, and the like. The expression vector may contain transcriptional and translational control elements (promoters, enhancers, specific initiation signals, and polyadenylated 3′ sequence) from various sources which have been selected for their efficiency in a particular host. The vector, cDNA, and regulatory elements are combined using in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques, and/or in vivo genetic recombination techniques well known in the art and described in Sambrook (supra, ch. 4, 8, 16 and 17).

[0097] A variety of host systems may be transformed with an expression vector. These include, but are not limited to, bacteria transformed with recombinant bacteriophage, plasmid, or cosmid DNA expression vectors; yeast transformed with yeast expression vectors; insect cell systems transformed with baculovirus expression vectors or plant cell systems transformed with expression vectors containing viral and/or bacterial elements (Ausubel supra, unit 16). In mammalian cell systems, an adenovirus transcriptional/translational complex may be utilized. After sequences are ligated into the E1 or E3 region of the viral genome, the infective virus is used to transform and express the protein in host cells. The Rous sarcoma virus enhancer or SV40 or EBV-based vectors may also be used for high-level protein expression.

[0098] Routine cloning, subcloning, and propagation of nucleic acid sequences can be achieved using the multifunctional pBLUESCRIPT vector (Stratagene, La Jolla Calif.) or pSPORT1 plasmid (Invitrogen). Introduction of a nucleic acid sequence into the multiple cloning site of these vectors disrupts the lacZ gene and allows colorimetric screening for transformed bacteria. In addition, these vectors may be useful for in vitro transcription, dideoxy sequencing, single strand rescue with helper phage, and creation of nested deletions in the cloned sequence.

[0099] For long term production of recombinant proteins, the vector can be stably transformed into cell lines along with a selectable or visible marker gene on the same or on a separate vector. After transformation, cells are allowed to grow for about 1 to 2 days in enriched media and then are transferred to selective media. Selectable markers, antimetabolite, antibiotic, or herbicide resistance genes, confer resistance to the relevant selective agent and allow growth and recovery of cells which successfully express the introduced sequences. Resistant clones identified either by survival on selective media or by the expression of visible markers may be propagated using culture techniques. Visible markers are also used to estimate the amount of protein expressed by the introduced genes. Verification that the host cell contains the desired cDNA is based on DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA hybridizations or PCR amplification.

[0100] The host cell may be chosen for its ability to modify a recombinant protein in a desired fashion. Such modifications include acetylation, carboxylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, lipidation, acylation and the like. Post-translational processing which cleaves a “prepro” form may also be used to specify protein targeting, folding, and/or activity. Different host cells which have specific cellular machinery and characteristic mechanisms for post-translational activities may be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the recombinant protein.

[0101] Recovery of Proteins from Cell Culture

[0102] Heterologous moieties engineered into a vector for ease of purification include glutathione S-transferase (GST), 6xHis, FLAG, MYC, and the like. GST and 6-His are purified using affinity matrices such as immobilized glutathione and metal-chelate resins, respectively. FLAG and MYC are purified using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. For ease of separation following purification, a sequence encoding a proteolytic cleavage site may be part of the vector located between the protein and the heterologous moiety. Methods for recombinant protein expression and purification are discussed in Ausubel (supra, unit 16).

[0103] Protein Identification

[0104] Several techniques have been developed which permit rapid identification of proteins using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS). Beginning with a sample containing proteins, the method is: 1) proteins are separated using electrophoresis, 2) selected proteins are excised from the gel and digested with a protease to produce a set of peptides; and 3) the peptides are subjected to HPLC to analyze amino acid content or MS to derive peptide ion mass and spectral pattern information. The MS information is used to identify the protein by comparing it with information in a protein database (Shevenko et al. (1996) Proc Natl Acad Sci 93:14440-14445).

[0105] Proteins are separated using isoelectric focusing (IEF) in the first dimension followed by SDS-PAGE in the second dimension. For IEF, an immobilized pH gradient strip is useful to increase reproducibility and resolution of the separation. Alternative techniques may be used to improve resolution of very basic, hydrophobic, or high molecular weight proteins. The separated proteins are detected using a stain or dye such as silver stain, Coomassie blue, or spyro red (Molecular Probes, Eugene Oreg.) that is compatible with MS. Gels may be blotted onto a PVDF membrane for western analysis and optically scanned using a STORM scanner (APB) to produce a computer-readable output which is analyzed by pattern recognition software such as MELANIE (GeneBio, Geneva, Switzerland). The software annotates individual spots by assigning a unique identifier and calculating their respective x,y coordinates, molecular masses, isoelectric points, and signal intensity. Individual spots of interest, such as those representing differentially expressed proteins, are excised and proteolytically digested with a site-specific protease such as trypsin or chymotrypsin, singly or in combination, to generate a set of small peptides, preferably in the range of 1-2 kDa. Prior to digestion, samples may be treated with reducing and alkylating agents, and following digestion, the peptides are then separated by liquid chromatography or capillary electrophoresis and analyzed using MS.

[0106] MS converts components of a sample into gaseous ions, separates the ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio, and determines relative abundance. For peptide mass fingerprinting analysis, a MALDI-TOF (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight), ESI (Electrospray Ionization), and TOF-TOF (Time of Flight/Time of Flight) machines are used to determine a set of highly accurate peptide masses. Using analytical programs, such as TURBOSEQUEST software (Finnigan, San Jose Calif.), the MS data is compared against a database of theoretical MS data derived from known or predicted proteins. A minimum match of three peptide masses is used for reliable protein identification. If additional information is needed for identification, Tandem-MS may be used to derive information about individual peptides. In tandem-MS, a first stage of MS is performed to determine individual peptide masses. Then selected peptide ions are subjected to fragmentation using a technique such as collision induced dissociation (CID) to produce an ion series. The resulting fragmentation ions are analyzed in a second round of MS, and their spectral pattern may be used to determine a short stretch of amino acid sequence (Dancik et al. (1999) J Comput Biol 6:327-342).

[0107] Assuming the protein is represented in the database, a combination of peptide mass and fragmentation data, together with the calculated MW and pI of the protein, will usually yield an unambiguous identification. If no match is found, protein sequence can be obtained using direct chemical sequencing procedures well known in the art (cf. Creighton (1984) Proteins, Structures and Molecular Properties, W H Freeman, New York N.Y.).

[0108] Chemical Synthesis of Peptides

[0109] Proteins or portions thereof may be produced not only by recombinant methods, but also by using chemical methods well known in the art. Solid phase peptide synthesis may be carried out in a batchwise or continuous flow process which sequentially adds α-amino- and side chain-protected amino acid residues to an insoluble polymeric support via a linker group. A linker group such as methylamine-derivatized polyethylene glycol is attached to poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) to form the support resin. The amino acid residues are N-α-protected by acid labile Boc (t-butyloxycarbonyl) or base-labile Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl). The carboxyl group of the protected amino acid is coupled to the amine of the linker group to anchor the residue to the solid phase support resin. Trifluoroacetic acid or piperidine are used to remove the protecting group in the case of Boc or Fmoc, respectively. Each additional amino acid is added to the anchored residue using a coupling agent or pre-activated amino acid derivative, and the resin is washed. The full length peptide is synthesized by sequential deprotection, coupling of derivitized amino acids, and washing with dichloromethane and/or N,N-dimethylformamide. The peptide is cleaved between the peptide carboxy terminus and the linker group to yield a peptide acid or amide. (Novabiochem 1997/98 Catalog and Peptide Synthesis Handbook, San Diego Calif. pp. S1-S20). Automated synthesis may also be carried out on machines such as the 431A peptide synthesizer (ABI). A protein or portion thereof may be purified by preparative HPLC and its composition confirmed by amino acid analysis or by sequencing (Creighton, supra).

[0110] Antibodies

[0111] Antibodies, or immunoglobulins (Ig), are components of immune response expressed on the surface of or secreted into the circulation by B cells. The prototypical antibody is a tetramer composed of two identical heavy polypeptide chains (H-chains) and two identical light polypeptide chains (L-chains) interlinked by disulfide bonds which binds and neutralizes foreign antigens. Based on their H-chain, antibodies are classified as IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG or IgM. The most common class, IgG, is tetrameric while other classes are variants or multimers of the basic structure.

[0112] Antibodies are described in terms of their two functional domains. Antigen recognition is mediated by the Fab (antigen binding fragment) region of the antibody, while effector functions are mediated by the Fc (crystallizable fragment) region. The binding of antibody to antigen triggers destruction of the antigen by phagocytic white blood cells such as macrophages and neutrophils. These cells express surface Fc receptors that specifically bind to the Fc region of the antibody and allow the phagocytic cells to destroy antibody-bound antigen. Fc receptors are single-pass transmembrane glycoproteins containing about 350 amino acids whose extracellular portion typically contains two or three Ig domains (Sears et al. (1990) J Immunol 144:371-378).

[0113] Preparation and Screening of Antibodies

[0114] Various hosts including mice, rats, rabbits, goats, llamas, camels, and human cell lines may be immunized by injection with an antigenic determinant. Adjuvants such as Freund's, mineral gels, and surface active substances such as lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemacyanin (KLH; Sigma-Aldrich, St Louis Mo.), and dinitrophenol may be used to increase immunological response. In humans, BCG (bacilli Calmette-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum increase response. The antigenic determinant may be an oligopeptide, peptide, or protein. When the amount of antigenic determinant allows immunization to be repeated, specific polyclonal antibody with high affinity can be obtained (Klinman and Press (1975) Transplant Rev 24:41-83). Oligopepetides which may contain between about five and about fifteen amino acids identical to a portion of the endogenous protein may be fused with proteins such as KLH in order to produce antibodies to the chimeric molecule.

[0115] Monoclonal antibodies may be prepared using any technique which provides for the production of antibodies by continuous cell lines in culture. These include the hybridoma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique, and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Kohler et al. (1975) Nature 256:495-497; Kozbor et al. (1985) J Immunol Methods 81:3142; Cote et al. (1983) Proc Natl Acad Sci 80:2026-2030; and Cole et al. (1984) Mol Cell Biol 62:109-120).

[0116] Chimeric antibodies may be produced by techniques such as splicing of mouse antibody genes to human antibody genes to obtain a molecule with appropriate antigen specificity and biological activity (Morrison et al. (1984) Proc Natl Acad Sci 81:6851-6855; Neuberger et al. (1984) Nature 312:604-608; and Takeda et al. (1985) Nature 314:452454). Alternatively, techniques described for antibody production may be adapted, using methods known in the art, to produce specific, single chain antibodies. Antibodies with related specificity, but of distinct idiotypic composition, may be generated by chain shuffling from random combinatorial immunoglobulin libraries (Burton (1991) Proc Natl Acad Sci 88:10134-10137). Antibody fragments which contain specific binding sites for an antigenic determinant may also be produced. For example, such fragments include, but are not limited to, F(ab′)2 fragments produced by pepsin digestion of the antibody molecule and Fab fragments generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of the F(ab)2 fragments. Alternatively, Fab expression libraries may be constructed to allow rapid and easy identification of monoclonal Fab fragments with the desired specificity (Huse et al. (1989) Science 246:1275-1281).

[0117] Antibodies may also be produced by inducing production in the lymphocyte population or by screening immunoglobulin libraries or panels of highly specific binding reagents as disclosed in Orlandi et al. (1989; Proc Natl Acad Sci 86:3833-3837) or Winter et al. (1991; Nature 349:293-299). A protein may be used in screening assays of phagemid or B-lymphocyte immunoglobulin libraries to identify antibodies having a desired specificity. Numerous protocols for competitive binding or immunoassays using either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies with established specificities are well known in the art.

[0118] Antibody Specificity

[0119] Various methods such as Scatchard analysis combined with radioimmunoassay techniques may be used to assess the affinity of particular antibodies for a protein. Affinity is expressed as an association constant, K_(a), which is defined as the molar concentration of protein-antibody complex divided by the molar concentrations of free antigen and free antibody under equilibrium conditions. The K_(a) determined for a preparation of polyclonal antibodies, which are heterogeneous in their affinities for multiple antigenic determinants, represents the average affinity, or avidity, of the antibodies. The K_(a) determined for a preparation of monoclonal antibodies, which are specific for a particular antigenic determinant, represents a true measure of affinity. High-affinity antibody preparations with K_(a) ranging from about 10⁹ to 10¹² L/mole are commonly used in immunoassays in which the protein-antibody complex must withstand rigorous manipulations. Low-affinity antibody preparations with K_(a) ranging from about 10⁶ to 10⁷ L/mole are preferred for use in immunopurification and similar procedures which ultimately require dissociation of the protein, preferably in active form, from the antibody (Catty (1988) Antibodies, Volume I: A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Washington D.C.; Liddell and Cryer (1991) A Practical Guide to Monoclonal Antibodies, John Wiley & Sons, New York N.Y.).

[0120] The titer and avidity of polyclonal antibody preparations may be further evaluated to determine the quality and suitability of such preparations for certain downstream applications. For example, a polyclonal antibody preparation containing about 5-10 mg specific antibody/ml, is generally employed in procedures requiring precipitation of protein-antibody complexes. Procedures for making antibodies, evaluating antibody specificity, titer, and avidity, and guidelines for antibody quality and usage in various applications, are discussed in Catty (supra) and Ausubel (supra) pp. 11.1-11.31.

[0121] Diagnostics

[0122] Differential expression of GTPAP or its encoding mRNAs and at least one of the assays below can be used to diagnose a signaling, immune, or cell proliferative disorder and in particular colon cancer, or to monitor mRNA or protein levels during therapeutic intervention. Antibodies which specifically bind GTPAP can also be used to diagnose these disorders.

[0123] Expression Profiles

[0124] An expression profile comprises the expression of a plurality of cDNAs or proteins as measured using standard assays with a sample. The cDNAs, proteins or antibodies of the invention may be used as elements in the assay to produce the expression profile. In one embodiment, an array upon which the elements are immobilized is used to diagnose, stage or monitor the progression or treatment of a disorder.

[0125] For example, the cDNAs, proteins or antibodies may be labeled using standard methods and added to a biological sample from a patient under conditions for the complex formation. After an incubation period, the sample is washed, and the amount of label (or signal) associated with each complexes is quantified and compared with a standard value. If the amount of complex formation in the patient sample is altered in comparison to normal or disease standards, then complex formation can be used to indicate the presence of a disorder.

[0126] In order to provide standards for establishing differential expression, normal and disease profiles are established. This is accomplished by combining a sample taken from a normal subject, either animal or human, with a cDNA under conditions for complex formation to occur. Standard complex formation may be quantified by comparing the values obtained using samples from normal subjects with values from an experiment in which a known amount of a purified, control is used. Standard values obtained in this manner may be compared with values obtained from samples from patients who were diagnosed with a particular condition, disease, or disorder. Deviation from standard values toward those associated with a particular disorder is used to diagnose or stage that disorder.

[0127] By analyzing changes in patterns of gene expression, a disorder can be diagnosed earlier, sometimes even before the patient is symptomatic. The invention can be used to formulate a prognosis and to design a treatment regimen. The invention can also be used to monitor the efficacy of treatment or to establish a dosage that causes a change in the expression profile indicative of successful treatment. For treatments with known side effects, the expression profile is employed to improve the treatment regimen so that expression patterns associated with the onset of undesirable side effects are avoided. This approach may be more sensitive and rapid than waiting for the patient to show inadequate improvement, or to manifest side effects, before altering the course of treatment.

[0128] In another embodiment, animal models which mimic a human disease can be used to characterize expression profiles associated with a particular condition, disease, or disorder; or treatment of the condition, disease, or disorder. Novel treatment regimens may be tested in these animal models using an expression profile over time. In addition, an expression profile may be used with cell cultures or tissues removed from animal models to rapidly screen large numbers of candidate drug molecules, looking for ones that produce an expression profile similar to those of known therapeutic drugs, with the expectation that molecules with the same expression profile will likely have similar therapeutic effects. Thus, the invention provides the means to rapidly determine the molecular mode of action of a drug.

[0129] Such expression profiles may also be used to evaluate the efficacy of a particular therapeutic treatment regimen in animal studies or in clinical trials or to monitor the treatment of an individual patient. Once the presence of a condition is established and a treatment protocol is initiated, expression may be analyzed on a regular basis to determine if the level of expression in the patient begins to approximate that which is observed in a normal subject. The results obtained from successive assays may be used to show the efficacy of treatment over a period ranging from several days to years.

[0130] Nucleic Acid Assays

[0131] The cDNAs, fragments, oligonucleotides, complementary RNAs, and peptide nucleic acids (PNA) may be used to detect and quantify differential gene expression for diagnosis of a disorder. Similarly antibodies which specifically bind the protein may be used to quantitate the protein. Breast cancer is associated with such differential expression. The diagnostic assay may use hybridization or amplification technology to compare gene expression in a biological sample from a patient to standard samples in order to detect differential gene expression. Qualitative or quantitative methods for this comparison are well known in the art.

[0132] Protein and Antibody Assays

[0133] Immunological methods for detecting and measuring complex formation as a measure of protein expression using either specific polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies are known in the art. Examples of such techniques include antibody or protein arrays, ELISA, FACS, spatial immobilization such as 2D-PAGE and SC, HPLC or MS, RIAs and western analysis. Such immunoassays typically involve the measurement of complex formation between the protein and its specific antibody. These assays and their quantitation against purified, labeled standards are well known in the art (Ausubel, supra, unit 10.1-10.6). A two-site, monoclonal-based immunoassay utilizing antibodies reactive to two non-interfering epitopes is preferred, but a competitive binding assay may be employed (Pound (1998) Immunochemical Protocols, Humana Press, Totowa N.J.).

[0134] These methods are also useful for diagnosing diseases that show differential protein expression. Normal or standard values for protein expression are established by combining body fluids or cell extracts taken from a normal mammalian or human subject with specific antibodies to a protein under conditions for complex formation. Standard values for complex formation in normal and diseased tissues are established by various methods, often photometric means. Then complex formation as it is expressed in a subject sample is compared with the standard values. Deviation from the normal standard and toward the diseased standard provides parameters for disease diagnosis or prognosis while deviation away from the diseased and toward the normal standard may be used to evaluate treatment efficacy.

[0135] Recently, antibody arrays have allowed the development of techniques for high-throughput screening of recombinant antibodies. Such methods use robots to pick and grid bacteria containing antibody genes, and a filter-based ELISA to screen and identify clones that express antibody fragments. Because liquid handling is eliminated and the clones are arrayed from master stocks, the same antibodies can be spotted multiple times and screened against multiple antigens simultaneously. Antibody arrays are highly useful in the identification of differentially expressed proteins. See de Wildt et al. (2000) Nature Biotechnol 18:989-94.

[0136] Therapeutics

[0137] Chemical and structural similarity, e.g., in the context of sequences and motifs, exists between regions of GTPAP and GAP proteins. In that the expression of GTPAP is closely associated with cell proliferation, inflammation and the immune response, GTPAP appears to play a role in cell signaling, immune, and cell proliferative disorders, particularly colon cancer. In the treatment of conditions associated with increased expression or activity, it is desirable to decrease expression or protein activity. In the treatment of conditions associated with decreased expression or activity, it is desirable to increase expression or protein activity

[0138] In the treatment of those disorders in which it is desirable to decrease expression or activity, a pharmaceutical agent such as an inhibitor, antagonist, small drug molecule or antibody that specifically binds the protein may be administered to a subject in need of such treatment. In another embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an inhibitor or an antagonist and a pharmaceutical carrier may be administered to a subject to treat increased expression or activity associated with the endogenous protein. In one aspect, an antibody that specifically binds GTPAP can act directly as an inhibitor or indirectly as a carrier to effect delivery of a pharmaceutical agent. In an additional embodiment, a vector expressing the complement of the cDNA, or fragments thereof, may be administered to a subject to treat the disorder

[0139] In the treatment of those disorders in which it is desirable to increase expression or activity, a pharmaceutical agent such as an agonist, transcription factor or a small drug molecule that specifically binds the protein and increases its expression or activity may be administered to a subject in need of such treatment. In another embodiment, a pharmaceutical composition comprising an agonist, transcription factor or a small drug molecule and a pharmaceutical carrier may be administered to a subject to treat decreased expression or activity associated with the endogenous protein. In one aspect, an antibody that specifically binds GTPAP can act as a carrier to effect delivery. In an additional embodiment, a vector expressing the encoding cDNA, or fragments thereof, may be administered to a subject to treat the disorder.

[0140] Any of the cDNAs, complementary molecules, or fragments thereof, proteins or portions thereof, vectors delivering these nucleic acid molecules or expressing the proteins, therapeutic antibodies, and ligands binding the cDNA or protein may be administered in combination with other therapeutic agents. Selection of the agents for use in combination therapy may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art according to conventional pharmaceutical principles. A combination of therapeutic agents may act synergistically to affect treatment of a particular disorder at a lower dosage of each agent.

[0141] Modification of Gene Expression Using Nucleic Acids

[0142] Gene expression may be modified by designing complementary or antisense molecules (DNA, RNA, or PNA) to the control, 5′, 3′, or other regulatory regions of the gene encoding GTPAP. Oligonucleotides designed to inhibit transcription initiation are preferred. Similarly, inhibition can be achieved using triple helix base-pairing which inhibits the binding of polymerases, transcription factors, or regulatory molecules (Gee et al. In: Huber and Carr (1994) Molecular and Immunologic Approaches, Futura Publishing, Mt. Kisco N.Y., pp. 163-177). A complementary molecule may also be designed to block translation by preventing binding between ribosomes and mRNA. In one alternative, a library or plurality of cDNAs may be screened to identify those which specifically bind a regulatory, nontranslated sequence.

[0143] Ribozymes, enzymatic RNA molecules, may also be used to catalyze the specific cleavage of RNA. The mechanism of ribozyme action involves sequence-specific hybridization of the ribozyme molecule to complementary target RNA followed by endonucleolytic cleavage at sites such as GUA, GUU, and GUC. Once such sites are identified, an oligonucleotide with the same sequence may be evaluated for secondary structural features which would render the oligonucleotide inoperable. The suitability of candidate targets may also be evaluated by testing their hybridization with complementary oligonucleotides using ribonuclease protection assays.

[0144] Complementary nucleic acids and ribozymes of the invention may be prepared via recombinant expression, in vitro or in vivo, or using solid phase phosphoramidite chemical synthesis. In addition, RNA molecules may be modified to increase intracellular stability and half-life by addition of flanking sequences at the 5′ and/or 3′ ends of the molecule or by the use of phosphorothioate or 2′ O-methyl rather than phosphodiesterase linkages within the backbone of the molecule. Modification is inherent in the production of PNAs and can be extended to other nucleic acid molecules. Either the inclusion of nontraditional bases such as inosine, queosine, and wybutosine, or the modification of adenine, cytidine, guanine, thymine, and uridine with acetyl-, methyl-, thio-groups renders the molecule more resistant to endogenous endonucleases.

[0145] RNA Interference

[0146] RNA interference (RNAi), also known as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced gene silencing, is a method of interfering with the transcription of specific mRNAs through the production of small RNAs (siRNAs) and short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). These RNAs are naturally formed in a multicomponent nuclease complex (RISC) in the presence of an RNAse III family nuclease (Dicer), and they serve as a guide to identify and destroy complementary transcripts. Transient infection of cells with RNAs capable of interference can bypass the need for Dicer and result in silencing of a gene for the lifespan of the introduced RNAs, usually from about 2 to about 7 days. See Paddison and Hannon (2002) Cancer Cell 2:17-23.

[0147] The RNAi pathway is believed to have evolved in early eukaryotes as a cell-based immunity against viral and genetic parasites. It is considered, however, to have great potential as a method of identifying gene function particularly in diseases such as cancer, as well as providing a highly specific means for nucleic acid-based therapies for cancer and other disorders.

[0148] cDNA Therapeutics

[0149] The cDNAs of the invention can be used in gene therapy. cDNAs can be delivered ex vivo to target cells, such as cells of bone marrow. Once stable integration and transcription and or translation are confirmed, the bone marrow may be reintroduced into the subject. Expression of the protein encoded by the cDNA may correct a disorder associated with mutation of a normal sequence, reduction or loss of an endogenous target protein, or overepression of an endogenous or mutant protein. Alternatively, cDNAs may be delivered in vivo using vectors such as retrovirus, adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, herpes simplex virus, and bacterial plasmids. Non-viral methods of gene delivery include cationic liposomes, polylysine conjugates, artificial viral envelopes, and direct injection of DNA (Anderson (1998) Nature 392:25-30; Dachs et al. (1997) Oncol Res 9:313-325; Chu et al. (1998) J Mol Med 76(3-4): 184-192; Weiss et al. (1999) Cell Mol Life Sci 55(3):334-358; Agrawal (1996) Antisense Therapeutics, Humana Press, Totowa N.J.; and August et al. (1997) Gene Therapy (Advances in Pharmacology, Vol. 40), Academic Press, San Diego Calif.).

[0150] Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics

[0151] Antibodies, and in particular monoclonal antibodies, that specifically bind a particular protein, enzyme, or receptor and block its overexpression are now being used therapeutically. The first widely accepted therapeutic antibody was HERCEPTIN (Trastuzumab, Genentech, S. San Francisco Calif.). HERCEPTIN is a humanized antibody approved for the treatment of HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. It is designed to bind and block the function of overexpressed HER2 protein. Other monoclonal antibodies are in various stages of clinical trials for indications such as prostate cancer, lymphoma, melanoma, pneumococcal infections, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and the like.

[0152] Screening and Purification Assays

[0153] A cDNA encoding GTPAP may be used to screen a library or a plurality of molecules or compounds for specific binding affinity. The libraries may be antisense molecules, artificial chromosome constructions, branched nucleic acid molecules, DNA molecules, peptides, peptide nucleic acid, proteins such as transcription factors, enhancers, or repressors, RNA molecules, ribozymes, and other ligands which regulate the activity, replication, transcription, or translation of the endogenous gene. The assay involves combining a polynucleotide with a library or plurality of molecules or compounds under conditions allowing specific binding, and detecting specific binding to identify at least one molecule which specifically binds the cDNA.

[0154] In one embodiment, the cDNA of the invention may be incubated with a plurality of purified molecules or compounds and binding activity determined by methods well known in the art, e.g., a gel-retardation assay (U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,849) or a reticulocyte lysate transcriptional assay. In another embodiment, the cDNA may be incubated with nuclear extracts from biopsied and/or cultured cells and tissues. Specific binding between the cDNA and a molecule or compound in the nuclear extract is initially determined by gel shift assay and may be later confirmed by recovering and raising antibodies against that molecule or compound. When these antibodies are added into the assay, they cause a supershift in the gel-retardation assay.

[0155] In another embodiment, the cDNA may be used to purify a molecule or compound using affinity chromatography methods well known in the art. In one embodiment, the cDNA is chemically reacted with cyanogen bromide groups on a polymeric resin or gel. Then a sample is passed over and reacts with or binds to the cDNA. The molecule or compound which is bound to the cDNA may be released from the cDNA by increasing the salt concentration of the flow-through medium and collected.

[0156] In a further embodiment, the protein or a portion thereof may be used to purify a ligand from a sample. A method for using a protein to purify a ligand would involve combining the protein with a sample under conditions to allow specific binding, detecting specific binding between the protein and ligand, recovering the bound protein, and using a chaotropic agent to separate the protein from the purified ligand.

[0157] In a preferred embodiment, GTPAP may be used to screen a plurality of molecules or compounds in any of a variety of screening assays. The portion of the protein employed in such screening may be free in solution, affixed to an abiotic or biotic substrate (e.g. borne on a cell surface), or located intracellularly. For example, in one method, viable or fixed prokaryotic host cells that are stably transformed with recombinant nucleic acids that have expressed and positioned a peptide on their cell surface can be used in screening assays. The cells are screened against a plurality or libraries of ligands, and the specificity of binding or formation of complexes between the expressed protein and the ligand can be measured. Depending on the particular kind of molecules or compounds being screened, the assay may be used to identify agonists, antagonists, antibodies, DNA molecules, small drug molecules, immunoglobulins, inhibitors, mimetics, peptides, peptide nucleic acids, proteins, and RNA molecules or any other ligand, which specifically binds the protein.

[0158] In one aspect, this invention contemplates a method for high throughput screening using very small assay volumes and very small amounts of test compound as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,876,946, incorporated herein by reference. This method is used to screen large numbers of molecules and compounds via specific binding. In another aspect, this invention also contemplates the use of competitive drug screening assays in which neutralizing antibodies capable of binding the protein specifically compete with a test compound capable of binding to the protein. Molecules or compounds identified by screening may be used in a mammalian model system to evaluate their toxicity or therapeutic potential.

[0159] Pharmaceutical Compositions

[0160] Pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated and administered, to a subject in need of such treatment, to attain a therapeutic effect. Such compositions contain the instant protein, agonists, antagonists, small drug molecules, immunoglobulins, inhibitors, mimetics, multispecific molecules, peptides, peptide nucleic acids, pharmaceutical agent, proteins, and RNA molecules. Compositions may be manufactured by conventional means such as mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping, or lyophilizing. The composition may be provided as a salt, formed with acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic, lactic, tartaric, malic, and succinic, or as a lyophilized powder which may be combined with a sterile buffer such as saline, dextrose, or water. These compositions may include auxiliaries or excipients which facilitate processing of the active compounds.

[0161] Auxiliaries and excipients may include coatings, fillers or binders including sugars such as lactose, sucrose, mannitol, glycerol, or sorbitol; starches from corn, wheat, rice, or potato; proteins such as albumin, gelatin and collagen; cellulose in the form of hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, methyl cellulose, or sodium carboxymethylcellulose; gums including arabic and tragacanth; lubricants such as magnesium stearate or talc; disintegrating or solubilizing agents such as the, agar, alginic acid, sodium alginate or cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone; stabilizers such as carbopol gel, polyethylene glycol, or titanium dioxide; and dyestuffs or pigments added for identify the product or to characterize the quantity of active compound or dosage.

[0162] These compositions may be administered by any number of routes including oral, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-arterial, intramedullary, intrathecal, intraventricular, transdermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, enteral, topical, sublingual, or rectal.

[0163] The route of administration and dosage will determine formulation; for example, oral administration may be accomplished using tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, or suspensions; parenteral administration may be formulated in aqueous, physiologically compatible buffers such as Hanks' solution, Ringer's solution, or physiologically buffered saline. Suspensions for injection may be aqueous, containing viscous additives such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or dextran to increase the viscosity, or oily, containing lipophilic solvents such as sesame oil or synthetic fatty acid esters such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes. Penetrants well known in the art are used for topical or nasal administration.

[0164] Toxicity and Therapeutic Efficacy

[0165] A therapeutically effective dose refers to the amount of active ingredient which ameliorates symptoms or condition. For any compound, a therapeutically effective dose can be estimated from cell culture assays using normal and neoplastic cells or in animal models. Therapeutic efficacy, toxicity, concentration range, and route of administration may be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures using experimental animals.

[0166] The therapeutic index is the dose ratio between therapeutic and toxic effects—LD50 (the dose lethal to 50% of the population)/ED50 (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population)—and large therapeutic indices are preferred. Dosage is within a range of circulating concentrations, includes an ED50 with little or no toxicity, and varies depending upon the composition, method of delivery, sensitivity of the patient, and route of administration. Exact dosage will be determined by the practitioner in light of factors related to the subject in need of the treatment.

[0167] Dosage and administration are adjusted to provide active moiety that maintains therapeutic effect. Factors for adjustment include the severity of the disease state, general health of the subject, age, weight, and gender of the subject, diet, time and frequency of administration, drug combination(s), reaction sensitivities, and tolerance/response to therapy. Long-acting pharmaceutical compositions may be administered every 3 to 4 days, every week, or once every two weeks depending on half-life and clearance rate of the particular composition.

[0168] Normal dosage amounts may vary from 0.1 μg, up to a total dose of about 1 g, depending upon the route of administration. The dosage of a particular composition may be lower when administered to a patient in combination with other agents, drugs, or hormones. Guidance as to particular dosages and methods of delivery is provided in the pharmaceutical literature. Further details on techniques for formulation and administration may be found in the latest edition of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Mack Publishing, Easton Pa.).

[0169] Model Systems

[0170] Animal models may be used as bioassays where they exhibit a phenotypic response similar to that of humans and where exposure conditions are relevant to human exposures. Mammals are the most common models, and most infectious agent, cancer, drug, and toxicity studies are performed on rodents such as rats or mice because of low cost, availability, lifespan, gestation period, numbers of progeny, and abundant reference literature. Inbred and outbred rodent strains provide a convenient model for investigation of the physiological consequences of under- or over-expression of genes of interest and for the development of methods for diagnosis and treatment of diseases. A mammal inbred to over-express a particular gene (for example, secreted in milk) may also serve as a convenient source of the protein expressed by that gene.

[0171] Toxicology

[0172] Toxicology is the study of the effects of agents on living systems. The majority of toxicity studies are performed on rats or mice. Observation of qualitative and quantitative changes in physiology, behavior, homeostatic processes, and lethality in the rats or mice are used to generate a toxicity profile and to assess consequences on human health following exposure to the agent.

[0173] Genetic toxicology identifies and analyzes the effect of an agent on the rate of endogenous, spontaneous, and induced genetic mutations. Genotoxic agents usually have common chemical or physical properties that facilitate interaction with nucleic acids and are most harmful when chromosomal aberrations are transmitted to progeny. Toxicological studies may identify agents that increase the frequency of structural or functional abnormalities in the tissues of the progeny if administered to either parent before conception, to the mother during pregnancy, or to the developing organism. Mice and rats are most frequently used in these tests because their short reproductive cycle allows the production of the numbers of organisms needed to satisfy statistical requirements.

[0174] Acute toxicity tests are based on a single administration of an agent to the subject to determine the symptomology or lethality of the agent. Three experiments are conducted: 1) an initial dose-range-finding experiment, 2) an experiment to narrow the range of effective doses, and 3) a final experiment for establishing the dose-response curve.

[0175] Subchronic toxicity tests are based on the repeated administration of an agent. Rat and dog are commonly used in these studies to provide data from species in different families. With the exception of carcinogenesis, there is considerable evidence that daily administration of an agent at high-dose concentrations for periods of three to four months will reveal most forms of toxicity in adult animals.

[0176] Chronic toxicity tests, with a duration of a year or more, are used to test whether long term administration may elicit toxicity, teratogenesis, or carcinogenesis. When studies are conducted on rats, a minimum of three test groups plus one control group are used, and animals are examined and monitored at the outset and at intervals throughout the experiment.

[0177] Transgenic Animal Models

[0178] Transgenic rodents that over-express or under-express a gene of interest may be inbred and used to model human diseases or to test therapeutic or toxic agents. (See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,383 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,767,337.) In some cases, the introduced gene may be activated at a specific time in a specific tissue type during fetal or postnatal development. Expression of the transgene is monitored by analysis of phenotype, of tissue-specific mRNA expression, or of serum and tissue protein levels in transgenic animals before, during, and after challenge with experimental drug therapies.

[0179] Embryonic Stem Cells

[0180] Embryonic (ES) stem cells isolated from rodent embryos retain the ability to form embryonic tissues. When ES cells are placed inside a carrier embryo, they resume normal development and contribute to tissues of the live-born animal. ES cells are the preferred cells used in the creation of experimental knockout and knockin rodent strains. Mouse ES cells, such as the mouse 129/SvJ cell line, are derived from the early mouse embryo and are grown under culture conditions well known in the art. Vectors used to produce a transgenic strain contain a disease gene candidate and a marker gene, the latter serves to identify the presence of the introduced disease gene. The vector is transformed into ES cells by methods well known in the art, and transformed ES cells are identified and microinjected into mouse cell blastocysts such as those from the C57BL/6 mouse strain. The blastocysts are surgically transferred to pseudopregnant dams, and the resulting chimeric progeny are genotyped and bred to produce heterozygous or homozygous strains.

[0181] ES cells derived from human blastocysts may be manipulated in vitro to differentiate into at least eight separate cell lineages. These lineages are used to study the differentiation of various cell types and tissues in vitro, and they include endoderm, mesoderm, and ectodermal cell types which differentiate into, for example, neural cells, hematopoietic lineages, and cardiomyocytes.

[0182] Knockout Analysis

[0183] In gene knockout analysis, a region of a gene is enzymatically modified to include a non-mammalian gene such as the neomycin phosphotransferase gene (neo; Capecchi (1989) Science 244:1288-1292). The modified gene is transformed into cultured ES cells and integrates into the endogenous genome by homologous recombination. The inserted sequence disrupts transcription and translation of the endogenous gene. Transformed cells are injected into rodent blastulae, and the blastulae are implanted into pseudopregnant dams. Transgenic progeny are crossbred to obtain homozygous inbred lines which lack a functional copy of the mammalian gene. In one example, the mammalian gene is a human gene.

[0184] Knockin Analysis

[0185] ES cells can be used to create knockin humanized animals (pigs) or transgenic animal models (mice or rats) of human diseases. With knockin technology, a region of a human gene is injected into animal ES cells, and the human sequence integrates into the animal cell genome. Transformed cells are injected into blastulae and the blastulae are implanted as described above. Transgenic progeny or inbred lines are studied and treated with pharmaceutical agents to obtain information on treatment of the analogous human condition. These methods have been used to model several human diseases.

[0186] Non-Human Primate Model

[0187] The field of animal testing deals with data and methodology from basic sciences such as physiology, genetics, chemistry, pharmacology and statistics. These data are paramount in evaluating the effects of therapeutic agents on non-human primates as they can be related to human health. Monkeys are used as human surrogates in vaccine and drug evaluations, and their responses are relevant to human exposures under similar conditions. Cynomolgus and Rhesus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis and Macaca mulatta, respectively) and Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are the most common non-human primates (NHPs) used in these investigations. Since great cost is associated with developing and maintaining a colony of NHPs, early research and toxicological studies are usually carried out in rodent models. In studies using behavioral measures such as drug addiction, NHPs are the first choice test animal. In addition, NHPs and individual humans exhibit differential sensitivities to many drugs and toxins and can be classified as a range of phenotypes from “extensive metabolizers” to “poor metabolizers” of these agents.

[0188] In additional embodiments, the cDNAs which encode GTPAP may be used in any molecular biology techniques that have yet to be developed, provided the new techniques rely on properties of cDNAs that are currently known, including, but not limited to, such properties as the triplet genetic code and specific base pair interactions.

EXAMPLES

[0189] The examples below are provided to illustrate the subject invention and are not included for the purpose of limiting the invention. For purposes of example, preparation of the human kidney cDNA library, KIDNNOT20, is described.

[0190] I Representative cDNA Sequence Preparation

[0191] The UTRSNOR01 cDNA library was constructed from microscopically normal endometrium obtained from a 29-year-old Caucasian female (specimen #0909A) during a vaginal hysterectomy and cystocele repair. Pathology of the uterus indicated a single intramural uterine leiomyoma. The endometrium was in secretory phase, and the cervix showed mild chronic cervicitis with focal squamous metaplasia. Patient history included hypothyroidism, pelvic floor relaxation, an incomplete T-12 injury from a motor vehicle accident causing paraplegia, and self-catheterization. Family history included benign hypertension, diabetes type II, and hyperlipidemia.

[0192] The frozen tissue was homogenized and lysed in TRIZOL reagent (1 gm tissue/10 ml reagent; Invitrogen) using a POLYTRON homogenizer (Brinkmann Instruments, Westbury N.Y.). After a brief incubation on ice, chloroform was added (1:5 v/v), and the lysate was centrifuged. The upper chloroform layer was removed to a fresh tube, and the RNA precipitated with isopropanol, resuspended in DEPC-treated water, and treated with DNAse for 25 min at 37C. The mRNA was re-extracted once with acid phenol-chloroform, pH 4.7, and precipitated using 0.3M sodium acetate and 2.5 volumes of ethanol. The mRNA was isolated with the OLIGOTEX kit (Qiagen, Chatsworth Calif.) and used to construct the cDNA library.

[0193] The mRNA was handled according to the recommended protocols in the SUPERSCRIPT plasmid system (Invitrogen). The cDNAs were fractionated on a SEPHAROSE CL4B column (APB), and those cDNAs exceeding 400 bp were ligated into pINCY plasmid (Incyte Genomics). The plasmid was subsequently transformed into DH5α competent cells (Invitrogen).

[0194] II Isolation and Sequencing of cDNA Clones

[0195] Plasmid DNA was released from the cells and purified using the REAL PREP 96 plasmid kit (Qiagen). This kit enabled the simultaneous purification of 96 samples in a 96-well block using multi-channel reagent dispensers. The recommended protocol was employed except for the following changes: 1) the bacteria were cultured in 1 ml of sterile TERRIFIC BROTH (Invitrogen) with carbenicillin at 25 mg/L and glycerol at 0.4% for 19 hours; 2) the cells were lysed with 0.3 ml of lysis buffer; and 3) following isopropanol precipitation, the plasmid DNA pellet was resuspended in 0.1 ml of distilled water. After the last step in the protocol, samples were transferred to a 96-well block for storage at 4C.

[0196] The cDNAs were prepared using a MICROLAB 2200 (Hamilton, Reno, Nev.) in combination with DNA ENGINE thermal cyclers (MJ Research). The cDNAs were sequenced by the method of Sanger and Coulson (1975, J Mol Biol 94:441-448) using an PRISM 377 DNA sequencing system (ABI).

[0197] III Assembly and Analyses

[0198] The consensus sequence (SEQ ID NO:28) was assembled from sequence fragments of Incyte Clones 908465R2, 957130R6, 1301520F6, 1580628H1, 2631247F6, 3068538H1, and 3532286T6 (SEQ ID NOs:1-7 respectively) from the LIFESEQ database (Incyte Genomics). These sequence fragments were used to identify additional sequences in the LIFESEQ and ZOOSEQ databases (Incyte Genomics) related to GTPAP. Translation of SEQ ID NOs:28 and 29 using MACDNASIS PRO software (Hitachi Software Engineering) elucidated the coding regions, SEQ ID NOs:30 and 31, respectively.

[0199] The polynucleotide sequences derived from cDNA sequencing were assembled and analyzed using a combination of software programs which utilize algorithms well known to those skilled in the art. Table 1 summarizes the tools, programs, and algorithms used and provides applicable descriptions, references, and threshold parameters. The first column of Table 1 shows the tools, programs, and algorithms used, the second column provides brief descriptions thereof, the third column presents appropriate references, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, and the fourth column presents, where applicable, the scores, probability values, and other parameters used to evaluate the strength of a match between two sequences (the higher the score, the greater the homology between two sequences). Sequences were analyzed using MACDNASIS PRO software (Hitachi Software Engineering, South San Francisco Calif.) and LASERGENE software (DNASTAR).

[0200] The polynucleotide sequences were validated by removing vector, linker, and polyA sequences and by masking ambiguous bases, using algorithms and programs based on BLAST, dynamic programing, and dinucleotide nearest neighbor analysis. The sequences were then queried against a selection of public databases such as the GenBank primate, rodent, mammalian, vertebrate, and eukaryote databases, and BLOCKS, PRINTS, DOMO, PRODOM, and PFAM to acquire annotation using programs based on BLAST, FASTA, and BLIMPS. The sequences were assembled into full length polynucleotide sequences using programs based on Phred, PHRAP, and Consed, and were screened for open reading frames using programs based on GeneMark, BLAST, and FASTA. The full length polynucleotide sequences were translated to derive the corresponding full length amino acid sequences, and these full length sequences were subsequently analyzed by querying against databases such as the GenBank databases (described above), SwissProt, BLOCKS, PRINTS, DOMO, PRODOM, Prosite, and Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based protein family databases such as PFAM. HMM is a probabilistic approach which analyzes consensus primary structures of gene families. (See, e.g., Eddy (1996) Curr Opin Str Biol 6:361-365.)

[0201] The programs described above for the assembly and analysis of full length polynucleotide and amino acid sequences were also used to characterize the sequence fragments from SEQ ID NOs:28 and 29. Fragments from about 20 to about 5000 nucleotides which are useful in hybridization and amplification technologies were described in THE INVENTION section above.

[0202] IV Identification of Nucleic Acid Variants

[0203] Nucleic acid molecules which are variants of the cDNAs encoding GTPAP (SEQ ID NOs:28 and 29) were identified by using BLAST or BLAST2 (Altschul (1997) supra; NCI-BLASTN version 2.0.4 with default parameters) to identify clones in the LIFESEQ or ZOOSEQ database (Incyte Genomics) which aligned with SEQ ID NOs:28 and 29. Mammalian cDNAs were selected by BLAST score which is calculated by scoring +5 for every base that matches in a nucleic acid High Scoring Pair (HSP) and 4 for every mismatch. The BLAST alignments were inspected visually and those clones with BLAST scores greater than 100 were aligned using PHRAP (Green, supra).

[0204] V Extension of cDNA Sequences

[0205] The cDNAs were extended using the cDNA clone and oligonucleotide primers. One primer was synthesized to initiate 5′ extension of the known fragment, and the other, to initiate 3′ extension of the known fragment. The initial primers were designed LASERGENE software (DNASTAR) to be about 22 to 30 nucleotides in length, to have a GC content of about 50% or more, and to anneal to the target sequence at temperatures of about 68C to about 72C. Any stretch of nucleotides that would result in hairpin structures and primer-primer dimerizations was avoided.

[0206] Selected cDNA libraries were used as templates to extend the sequence. If more than one extension was necessary, additional or nested sets of primers were designed. Preferred libraries have been size-selected to include larger cDNAs and random primed to contain more sequences with 5′ or upstream regions of genes. Genomic libraries are used to obtain regulatory elements, especially extension into the 5′ promoter binding region.

[0207] High fidelity amplification was obtained by PCR using methods such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,451. PCR was performed in 96-well plates using the DNA ENGINE thermal cycler (MJ Research). The reaction mix contained DNA template, 200 mmol of each primer, reaction buffer containing Mg²⁺, (NH₄)₂SO₄, and β-mercaptoethanol, Taq DNA polymerase (APB), ELONGASE enzyme (Invitrogen), and Pfu DNA polymerase (Stratagene), with the following parameters for primer pair PCI A and PCI B (Incyte Genomics): Step 1: 94C, three min; Step 2: 94C, 15 sec; Step 3: 60C, one min; Step 4: 68C, two min; Step 5: Steps 2, 3, and 4 repeated 20 times; Step 6: 68C, five min; Step 7: storage at 4C. In the alternative, the parameters for primer pair T7 and SK+ (Stratagene) were as follows: Step 1: 94C, three min; Step 2: 94C, 15 sec; Step 3: 57C, one min; Step 4: 68C, two min; Step 5: Steps 2, 3, and 4 repeated 20 times; Step 6: 68C, five min; Step 7: storage at 4C.

[0208] The concentration of DNA in each well was determined by dispensing 100 μl PICOGREEN quantitation reagent (0.25% reagent in 1×TE, v/v; Molecular Probes) and 0.5 μl of undiluted PCR product into each well of an opaque fluorimeter plate (Corning Life Sciences, Acton Mass.) and allowing the DNA to bind to the reagent. The plate was scanned in a Fluoroskan II (Labsystems Oy) to measure the fluorescence of the sample and to quantify the concentration of DNA. A 5 μl to 10 μl aliquot of the reaction mixture was analyzed by electrophoresis on a 1% agarose mini-gel to determine which reactions were successful in extending the sequence.

[0209] The extended clones were desalted, concentrated, transferred to 384-well plates, digested with CviJI cholera virus endonuclease (Molecular Biology Research, Madison Wis.), and sonicated or sheared prior to religation into pUC18 vector (APB). For shotgun sequences, the digested nucleotide sequences were separated on low concentration (0.6 to 0.8%) agarose gels, fragments were excised, and the agar was digested with AGARACE enzyme (Promega). Extended clones were religated using T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs) into pUC18 vector (APB), treated with Pfu DNA polymerase (Stratagene) to fill-in restriction site overhangs, and transfected into E. coli competent cells. Transformed cells were selected on antibiotic-containing media, and individual colonies were picked and cultured overnight at 37C in 384-well plates in LB/2x carbenicillin liquid media.

[0210] The cells were lysed, and DNA was amplified using primers, Taq DNA polymerase (APB) and Pfu DNA polymerase (Stratagene) with the following parameters: Step 1: 94C, three min; Step 2: 94C, 15 sec; Step 3: 60C, one min; Step 4: 72C, two min; Step 5: steps 2, 3, and 4 repeated 29 times; Step 6: 72C, five min; Step 7: storage at 4C. DNA was quantified using PICOGREEN quantitative reagent (Molecular Probes) as described above. Samples with low DNA recoveries were reamplified using the conditions described above. Samples were diluted with 20% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO; 1:2, v/v), and sequenced using DYENAMIC energy transfer sequencing primers and the DYENAMIC DIRECT cycle sequencing kit (APB) or the PRISM BIGDYE terminator cycle sequencing kit (ABI).

[0211] VI Homology Searching of cDNA Clones and Their Deduced Proteins

[0212] The cDNAs of the Sequence Listing or their deduced amino acid sequences were used to query databases such as GenBank, SwissProt, BLOCKS, and the like. These databases that contain previously identified and annotated sequences or domains were searched using BLAST or BLAST 2 (Altschul et al. supra; Altschul, supra) to produce alignments and to determine which sequences were exact matches or homologs. The alignments were to sequences of prokaryotic (bacterial) or eukaryotic (animal, fungal, or plant) origin. Alternatively, algorithms such as the one described in Smith and Smith (1992, Protein Engineering 5:35-51) could have been used to deal with primary sequence patterns and secondary structure gap penalties. All of the sequences disclosed in this application have lengths of at least 49 nucleotides, and no more than 12% uncalled bases (where N is recorded rather than A, C, G, or T).

[0213] As detailed in Karlin (supra), BLAST matches between a query sequence and a database sequence were evaluated statistically and only reported when they satisfied the threshold of 10-25 for nucleotides and 10⁻¹⁴ for peptides. Homology was also evaluated by product score calculated as follows: the % nucleotide or amino acid identity [between the query and reference sequences] in BLAST is multiplied by the % maximum possible BLAST score [based on the lengths of query and reference sequences] and then divided by 100. In comparison with hybridization procedures used in the laboratory, the electronic stringency for an exact match was set at 70, and the conservative lower limit for an exact match was set at approximately 40 (with 1-2% error due to uncalled bases).

[0214] The BLAST software suite, freely available sequence comparison algorithms (NCBI, Bethesda Md.), includes various sequence analysis programs including “blastn” that is used to align nucleic acid molecules and BLAST 2 that is used for direct pairwise comparison of either nucleic or amino acid molecules. BLAST programs are commonly used with gap and other parameters set to default settings, e.g.: Matrix: BLOSUM62; Reward for match: 1; Penalty for mismatch: -2; Open Gap: 5 and Extension Gap: 2 penalties; Gap x drop-off: 50; Expect: 10; Word Size: 11; and Filter: on. Identity is measured over the entire length of a sequence or some smaller portion thereof. Brenner et al. (1998; Proc Natl Acad Sci 95:6073-6078, incorporated herein by reference) analyzed the BLAST for its ability to identify structural homologs by sequence identity and found 30% identity is a reliable threshold for sequence alignments of at least 150 residues and 40%, for alignments of at least 70 residues.

[0215] The mammalian cDNAs of this application were compared with assembled consensus sequences or templates found in the LIFESEQ GOLD database. Component sequences from cDNA, extension, full length, and shotgun sequencing projects were subjected to PHRED analysis and assigned a quality score. All sequences with an acceptable quality score were subjected to various pre-processing and editing pathways to remove low quality 3′ ends, vector and linker sequences, polyA tails, Alu repeats, mitochondrial and ribosomal sequences, and bacterial sequences. Edited sequences had to be at least 50 bp in length, and low-information sequences and repetitive elements such as dinucleotide repeats, Alu repeats, and the like, were replaced by “Ns” or masked.

[0216] Edited sequences were subjected to assembly procedures in which the sequences were assigned to gene bins. Each sequence could only belong to one bin, and sequences in each bin were assembled to produce a template. Newly sequenced components were added to existing bins using BLAST and CROSSMATCH. To be added to a bin, the component sequences had to have a BLAST quality score greater than or equal to 150 and an alignment of at least 82% local identity. The sequences in each bin were assembled using PHRAP. Bins with several overlapping component sequences were assembled using DEEP PHRAP. The orientation of each template was determined based on the number and orientation of its component sequences.

[0217] Bins were compared to one another and those having local similarity of at least 82% were combined and reassembled. Bins having templates with less than 95% local identity were split. Templates were subjected to analysis by STITCHER/EXON MAPPER algorithms that analyze the probabilities of the presence of splice variants, alternatively spliced exons, splice junctions, differential expression of alternative spliced genes across tissue types or disease states, and the like. Assembly procedures were repeated periodically, and templates were annotated using BLAST against GenBank databases such as GBpri. An exact match was defined as having from 95% local identity over 200 base pairs through 100% local identity over 100 base pairs and a homolog match as having an E-value (or probability score) of ≦1×10⁻⁸. The templates were also subjected to frameshift FASTx against GENPEPT, and homolog match was defined as having an E-value of ≦1×10⁻⁸. Template analysis and assembly was described in U.S. Ser. No. 09/276,534, filed Mar. 25, 1999.

[0218] Following assembly, templates were subjected to BLAST, motif, and other functional analyses and categorized in protein hierarchies using methods described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/812,290 and U.S. Ser. No. 08/811,758, both filed Mar. 6, 1997; in U.S. Ser. No. 08/947,845, filed Oct. 9, 1997; and in U.S. Ser. No. 09/034,807, filed Mar. 4, 1998. Then templates were analyzed by translating each template in all three forward reading frames and searching each translation against the PFAM database of hidden Markov model-based protein families and domains using the HMMER software package (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis Mo.).

[0219] The cDNA was further analyzed using MACDNASIS PRO software (Hitachi Software Engineering), and LASERGENE software (DNASTAR) and queried against public databases such as the GenBank rodent, mammalian, vertebrate, prokaryote, and eukaryote databases, SwissProt, BLOCKS, PRINTS, PFAM, and Prosite.

[0220] VII Chromosome Mapping

[0221] Radiation hybrid and genetic mapping data available from public resources such as the Stanford Human Genome Center (SHGC), Whitehead Institute for Genome Research (WIGR), and Généthon are used to determine if any of the cDNAs presented in the Sequence Listing have been mapped. Any of the fragments of the cDNAs encoding GTPAP that have been mapped result in the assignment of all related regulatory and coding sequences mapping to the same location. The genetic map locations are described as ranges, or intervals, of human chromosomes. The map position of an interval, in cM (which is roughly equivalent to 1 megabase of human DNA), is measured relative to the terminus of the chromosomal p-arm.

[0222] VIII Hybridization Technologies and Analyses

[0223] Immobilization of cDNAs on a Substrate

[0224] The cDNAs are applied to a substrate by one of the following methods. A mixture of cDNAs is fractionated by gel electrophoresis and transferred to a nylon membrane by capillary transfer. Alternatively, the cDNAs are individually ligated to a vector and inserted into bacterial host cells to form a library. The cDNAs are then arranged on a substrate by one of the following methods. In the first method, bacterial cells containing individual clones are robotically picked and arranged on a nylon membrane. The membrane is placed on LB agar containing selective agent (carbenicillin, kanamycin, ampicillin, or chloramphenicol depending on the vector used) and incubated at 37C for 16 hr. The membrane is removed from the agar and consecutively placed colony side up in 10% SDS, denaturing solution (1.5 M NaCl, 0.5 M NaOH), neutralizing solution (1.5 M NaCl, 1 M Tris, pH 8.0), and twice in 2×SSC for 10 min each. The membrane is then UV irradiated in a STRATALINKER UV-crosslinker (Stratagene).

[0225] In the second method, cDNAs are amplified from bacterial vectors by thirty cycles of PCR using primers complementary to vector sequences flanking the insert. PCR amplification increases a starting concentration of 1-2 ng nucleic acid to a final quantity greater than 5 μg. Amplified nucleic acids from about 400 bp to about 5000 bp in length are purified using SEPHACRYL400 beads (APB). Purified nucleic acids are arranged on a nylon membrane manually or using a dot/slot blotting manifold and suction device and are immobilized by denaturation, neutralization, and UV irradiation as described above. Purified nucleic acids are robotically arranged and immobilized on polymer-coated glass slides using the procedure described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,807,522. Polymer-coated slides are prepared by cleaning glass microscope slides (Corning Life Sciences) by ultrasound in 0.1% SDS and acetone, etching in 4% hydrofluoric acid (VWR Scientific Products, West Chester Pa.), coating with 0.05% aminopropyl silane (Sigma-Aldrich) in 95% ethanol, and curing in a 110° C. oven. The slides are washed extensively with distilled water between and after treatments. The nucleic acids are arranged on the slide and then immobilized by exposing the array to UV irradiation using a STRATALINKER UV-crosslinker (Stratagene). Arrays are then washed at room temperature in 0.2% SDS and rinsed three times in distilled water. Non-specific binding sites are blocked by incubation of arrays in 0.2% casein in phosphate buffered saline (PBS; Tropix, Bedford Mass.) for 30 min at 60C; then the arrays are washed in 0.2% SDS and rinsed in distilled water as before.

[0226] Probe Preparation for Membrane Hybridization

[0227] Hybridization probes derived from the cDNAs of the Sequence Listing are employed for screening cDNAs, mRNAs, or genomic DNA in membrane-based hybridizations. Probes are prepared by diluting the cDNAs to a concentration of 40-50 ng in 45 μl TE buffer, denaturing by heating to 100° C. for five min, and briefly centrifuging. The denatured cDNA is then added to a REDIPRIME tube (APB), gently mixed until blue color is evenly distributed, and briefly centrifuged. Five μl of [³²P]dCTP is added to the tube, and the contents are incubated at 37C for 10 min. The labeling reaction is stopped by adding 5 μl of 0.2M EDTA, and probe is purified from unincorporated nucleotides using a PROBEQUANT G-50 microcolumn (APB). The purified probe is heated to 100° C. for five min, snap cooled for two min on ice, and used in membrane-based hybridizations as described below.

[0228] Probe Preparation for Polymer Coated Slide Hybridization

[0229] Hybridization probes derived from mRNA isolated from samples are employed for screening cDNAs of the Sequence Listing in array-based hybridizations. Probe is prepared using the GEMbright kit (Incyte Genomics) by diluting mRNA to a concentration of 200 ng in 9 μl TE buffer and adding 5 μl 5×buffer, 1 μL 0.1 M DTT, 3 μl Cy3 or Cy5 labeling mix, 1 μl RNAse inhibitor, 1 μl reverse transcriptase, and 5 μl 1×yeast control mRNAs. Yeast control mRNAs are synthesized by in vitro transcription from noncoding yeast genomic DNA (W Lei, unpublished). As quantitative controls, one set of control mRNAs at 0.002 ng, 0.02 ng, 0.2 ng, and 2 ng are diluted into reverse transcription reaction mixture at ratios of 1:100,000, 1:10,000, 1:1000, and 1:100 (w/w) to sample mRNA respectively. To examine mRNA differential expression patterns, a second set of control mRNAs are diluted into reverse transcription reaction mixture at ratios of 1:3, 3:1, 1:10, 10:1, 1:25, and 25:1 (w/w). The reaction mixture is mixed and incubated at 37C for two hr. The reaction mixture is then incubated for 20 min at 85C, and probes are purified using two successive CHROMA SPIN+TE 30 columns (BD Bisociences Clontech, Palo Alto Calif.). Purified probe is ethanol precipitated by diluting probe to 90 μl in DEPC-treated water, adding 2 μl 1 mg/ml glycogen, 60 μl 5 M sodium acetate, and 300 μl 100% ethanol. The probe is centrifuged for 20 min at 20,800×g, and the pellet is resuspended in 12 μL resuspension buffer, heated to 65C for five min, and mixed thoroughly. The probe is heated and mixed as before and then stored on ice. Probe is used in high density array-based hybridizations as described below.

[0230] Membrane-Based Hybridization

[0231] Membranes are pre-hybridized in hybridization solution containing 1% Sarkosyl and 1×high phosphate buffer (0.5 M NaCl, 0.1 M Na₂HPO₄, 5 mM EDTA, pH 7) at 55C for two hr. The probe, diluted in 15 ml fresh hybridization solution, is then added to the membrane. The membrane is hybridized with the probe at 55C for 16 hr. Following hybridization, the membrane is washed for 15 min at 25C in 1 mM Tris (pH 8.0), 1% Sarkosyl, and four times for 15 min each at 25C in 1 mM Tris (pH 8.0). To detect hybridization complexes, XOMAT-AR film (Eastman Kodak, Rochester N.Y.) is exposed to the membrane overnight at −70C, developed, and examined.

[0232] Polymer Coated Slide-Based Hybridization

[0233] Probe is heated to 65C for five min, centrifuged five min at 9400 rpm in a 5415C microcentrifuge (Eppendorf Scientific, Westbury N.Y.), and then 18 μl is aliquoted onto the array surface and covered with a coverslip. The arrays are transferred to a waterproof chamber having a cavity just slightly larger than a microscope slide. The chamber is kept at 100% humidity internally by the addition of 140 μl of 5×SSC in a corner of the chamber. The chamber containing the arrays is incubated for about 6.5 hr at 60C. The arrays are washed for 10 min at 45C in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS, and three times for 10 min each at 45C in 0.1×SSC, and dried.

[0234] Hybridization reactions are performed in absolute or differential hybridization formats. In the absolute hybridization format, probe from one sample is hybridized to array elements, and signals are detected after hybridization complexes form. Signal strength correlates with probe mRNA levels in the sample. In the differential hybridization format, differential expression of a set of genes in two biological samples is analyzed. Probes from the two samples are prepared and labeled with different labeling moieties. A mixture of the two labeled probes is hybridized to the array elements, and signals are examined under conditions in which the emissions from the two different labels are individually detectable. Elements on the array that are hybridized to substantially equal numbers of probes derived from both biological samples give a distinct combined fluorescence (Shalon WO95/35505).

[0235] Hybridization complexes are detected with a microscope equipped with an Innova 70 mixed gas 10 W laser (Coherent, Santa Clara Calif.) capable of generating spectral lines at 488 nm for excitation of Cy3 and at 632 nm for excitation of Cy5. The excitation laser light is focused on the array using a 20×microscope objective (Nikon, Melville N.Y.). The slide containing the array is placed on a computer-controlled X-Y stage on the microscope and raster-scanned past the objective with a resolution of 20 micrometers. In the differential hybridization format, the two fluorophores are sequentially excited by the laser. Emitted light is split, based on wavelength, into two photomultiplier tube detectors (PMT R1477, Hamamatsu Photonics Systems, Bridgewater N.J.) corresponding to the two fluorophores. Appropriate filters positioned between the array and the photomultiplier tubes are used to filter the signals. The emission maxima of the fluorophores used are 565 nm for Cy3 and 650 nm for Cy5. The sensitivity of the scans is calibrated using the signal intensity generated by the yeast control mRNAs added to the probe mix. A specific location on the array contains a complementary DNA sequence, allowing the intensity of the signal at that location to be correlated with a weight ratio of hybridizing species of 1: 100,000.

[0236] The output of the photomultiplier tube is digitized using a 12-bit RTI-835H analog-to-digital (AID) conversion board (Analog Devices, Norwood Mass.) installed in an IBM-compatible PC computer. The digitized data are displayed as an image where the signal intensity is mapped using a linear 20-color transformation to a pseudocolor scale ranging from blue (low signal) to red (high signal). The data is also analyzed quantitatively. Where two different fluorophores are excited and measured simultaneously, the data are first corrected for optical crosstalk (due to overlapping emission spectra) between the fluorophores using the emission spectrum for each fluorophore. A grid is superimposed over the fluorescence signal image such that the signal from each spot is centered in each element of the grid. The fluorescence signal within each element is then integrated to obtain a numerical value corresponding to the average intensity of the signal. The software used for signal analysis was the GEMTOOLS program (Incyte Genomics).

[0237] IX Northern Analysis, Transcript Imaging, and Guilt-By-Association

[0238] Northern analysis

[0239] Northern analysis is a laboratory technique used to detect the presence of a transcript of a gene and involves the hybridization of a labeled nucleotide sequence to a membrane on which RNAs from a particular cell type or tissue have been bound. The technique is described in EXAMPLE VII above and in Ausubel, supra, units 4.14.9)

[0240] Analogous computer techniques applying BLAST are used to search for identical or related molecules in nucleotide databases such as GenBank or the LIFESEQ database (Incyte Genomics). This analysis is faster than multiple membrane-based hybridizations. In addition, the sensitivity of the computer search can be modified to determine whether any particular match is categorized as exact or homologous. The basis of the search is the product score which was described above.

[0241] Electronic northern analysis showed the highly specific expression of GTPAP as represented by sequence fragments of 3068538CB 1 in colon. The sequence fragments were expressed 61 times in 19 other libraries, but no other tissue showed significant specificity. Colon cDNAs Libraries Tumor Diseased Normal Tissue Specificity 14 (10/91)* 11 (7/34) 0 (0/21) 3 (3/28) 1.50E-06

[0242] Transcript Imaging

[0243] A transcript image was performed for GTPAP using the LIFESEQ GOLD database (Incyte Genomics). This process assessed the relative abundance of the expressed polynucleotides in all of the cDNA libraries and was described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,484, incorporated herein by reference. All sequences and cDNA libraries in the LIFESEQ database are categorized by system, organ/tissue and cell type. The categories include cardiovascular system, connective tissue, digestive system, embryonic structures, endocrine system, exocrine glands, female and male genitalia, germ cells, hemic/immune system, liver, musculoskeletal system, nervous system, pancreas, respiratory system, sense organs, skin, stomatognathic system, unclassified/mixed, and the urinary tract. Criteria for transcript imaging were selected from category, number of cDNAs per library, library description, disease indication, clinical relevance of sample, and the like.

[0244] For each category, the number of libraries in which the sequence was expressed was counted and shown over the total number of libraries in that category. For each library, the number of cDNAs were counted and shown over the total number of cDNAs in that library. In some transcript images, all enriched, normalized (NORM) or subtracted (SUB) libraries, which have high copy number sequences can be removed prior to processing, and all mixed or pooled tissues, which are considered non-specific in that they contain more than one tissue type or more than one subject's tissue, can be excluded from the analysis. Treated and untreated cell lines and/or fetal tissue data can also be excluded where clinical relevance is emphasized. Conversely, fetal tissue can be emphasized wherever elucidation of inherited disorders or differentiation of particular adult or embryonic stem cells into tissues or organs (such as heart, kidney, nerves or pancreas) would be enhanced by removing clinical samples from the analysis.

[0245] The transcript image below demonstrates the expression of GTPAP in colon and suggests that GTPAP is acting as a tumor suppressor in colon cancer. Column one of the table shows SEQ ID NO; column two, library name; column three, the number of cDNAs in the library; column four, description of the colon tissue; column five, abundance of the transcript, and column six, percentage abundance of the transcript. SEQ ID Library* cDNAs Description of Colon Tissue Abund % Abund 28 COLNNOT09 2530 mw/adenoCA, aw/node mets, 60M, m/COLNTUT16 1 0.04 28 COLCDIT03 3069 cecum polyp, aw/adenoCA, 67F 1 0.03 28 COLHTUT01 3475 tumor, hepatic flexure, adenoCA, 55M, m/COLATMT01 1 0.03 28 COLNNOT22 3599 mw/Crohn's, 56F 1 0.03 29 COLNTUT15 4039 tumor, adenoCA, 64F 1 0.02 28 COLNTUT15 4039 tumor, adenoCA, 64F 1 0.02 28 COLNTUT03 5063 tumor, sigmoid, adenoCA, 62M, m/COLNNOT16 1 0.02

[0246] Given that most tumor suppressors are expressed early in the disease process and either mutated or downregulated during later stages of the cancer, expression of the transcript in colon tissues matched with (mw/) or associated with (aw/) colon cancer was expected to be slightly more abundant than in diagnosed tumor samples. Late stage or metastatic colon samples in the database are conspicuously absent from the TI. Therefore, the expression profile for GTPAP1 supports function as a tumor suppressor.

[0247] Guilt-By-Association

[0248] GBA identifies cDNAs that are expressed in a plurality of cDNA libraries relating to a specific disease process, subcellular compartment, cell type, tissue type, or species. The expression patterns of cDNAs with unknown function are compared with the expression patterns of genes having well documented function to determine whether a specified co-expression probability threshold is met. Through this comparison, a subset of the cDNAs having a highly significant co-expression probability with the known genes are identified.

[0249] The cDNAs originate from human cDNA libraries from any cell or cell line, tissue, or organ and may be selected from a variety of sequence types including, but not limited to, expressed sequence tags (ESTs), assembled polynucleotides, full length gene coding regions, promoters, introns, enhancers, 5′ untranslated regions, and 3′ untranslated regions. To have statistically significant analytical results, the cDNAs need to be expressed in at least five cDNA libraries. The number of cDNA libraries whose sequences are analyzed can range from as few as 500 to greater than 10,000.

[0250] The method for identifying cDNAs that exhibit a statistically significant co-expression pattern is as follows. First, the presence or absence of a gene in a cDNA library is defined: a gene is present in a library when at least one fragment of its sequence is detected in a sample taken from the library, and a gene is absent from a library when no corresponding fragment is detected in the sample.

[0251] Second, the significance of co-expression is evaluated using a probability method to measure a due-to-chance probability of the co-expression. The probability method can be the Fisher exact test, the chi-squared test, or the kappa test. These tests and examples of their applications are well known in the art and can be found in standard statistics texts (Agresti (1990) Categorical Data Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, New York N.Y.; Rice (1988) Mathematical Statistics and Data Analysis, Duxbury Press, Pacific Grove Calif.). A Bonferroni correction (Rice, supra, p. 384) can also be applied in combination with one of the probability methods for correcting statistical results of one gene versus multiple other genes. In a preferred embodiment, the due-to-chance probability is measured by a Fisher exact test, and the threshold of the due-to-chance probability is set preferably to less than 0.001.

[0252] This method of estimating the probability for co-expression of two genes assumes that the libraries are independent and are identically sampled. However, in practical situations, the selected cDNA libraries are not entirely independent because: 1) more than one library may be obtained from a single subject or tissue, and 2) different numbers of cDNAs, typically ranging from 5,000 to 10,000, may be sequenced from each library. In addition, since a Fisher exact co-expression probability is calculated for each gene versus every other gene that occurs in at least five libraries, a Bonferroni correction for multiple statistical tests is used (See Walker et al. (1999; Genome Res 9:1198-203; expressly incorporated herein by reference).

[0253] x Complementary Molecules

[0254] Molecules complementary to the cDNA, from about 5 (PNA) to about 5000 bp (complement of a cDNA insert), are used to detect or inhibit gene expression. These molecules are selected using LASERGENE software (DNASTAR). Detection is described in Example VII. To inhibit transcription by preventing promoter binding, the complementary molecule is designed to bind to the most unique 5′ sequence and includes nucleotides of the 5′ UTR upstream of the initiation codon of the open reading frame. Complementary molecules include genomic sequences (such as enhancers or introns) and are used in “triple helix” base pairing to compromise the ability of the double helix to open sufficiently for the binding of polymerases, transcription factors, or regulatory molecules. To inhibit translation, a complementary molecule is designed to prevent ribosomal binding to the mRNA encoding the mammalian protein.

[0255] Complementary molecules are placed in expression vectors and used to transform a cell line to test efficacy; into an organ, tumor, synovial cavity, or the vascular system for transient or short term therapy; or into a stem cell, zygote, or other reproducing lineage for long term or stable gene therapy. Transient expression lasts for a month or more with a non-replicating vector and for three months or more if appropriate elements for inducing vector replication are used in the transformation/expression system.

[0256] Stable transformation of appropriate dividing cells with a vector encoding the complementary molecule produces a transgenic cell line, tissue, or organism (U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,866). Those cells that assimilate and replicate sufficient quantities of the vector to allow stable integration also produce enough complementary molecules to compromise or entirely eliminate activity of the cDNA encoding the mammalian protein.

[0257] XI Expression of GTPAP

[0258] Expression and purification of the mammalian protein are achieved using either a mammalian cell expression system or an insect cell expression system. The pUB6/V5-His vector system (Invitrogen) is used to express GTPAP in CHO cells. The vector contains the selectable bsd gene, multiple cloning sites, the promoter/enhancer sequence from the human ubiquitin C gene, a C-terminal V5 epitope for antibody detection with anti-V5 antibodies, and a C-terminal polyhistidine (6×His) sequence for rapid purification on PROBOND resin (Invitrogen). Transformed cells are selected on media containing blasticidin.

[0259]Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) insect cells are infected with recombinant Autographica californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (baculovirus). The polyhedrin gene is replaced with the mammalian cDNA by homologous recombination and the polyhedrin promoter drives cDNA transcription. The protein is synthesized as a fusion protein with 6xhis which enables purification as described above. Purified protein is used in the following activity and to make antibodies.

[0260] XII Production of Antibodies

[0261] GTPAP are purified using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and used to immunize mice or rabbits. Antibodies are produced using the protocols below. Alternatively, the amino acid sequences of GTPAP are analyzed using LASERGENE software (DNASTAR) to determine regions of high antigenicity. An antigenic epitope, usually found near the C-terminus or in a hydrophilic region is selected, synthesized, and used to raise antibodies. Typically, epitopes of about 15 residues in length are produced using a 431A peptide synthesizer (ABI) using Fmoc-chemistry and coupled to KLH (Sigma-Aldrich) by reaction with N-maleimidobenzoyl-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester to increase antigenicity.

[0262] Rabbits are immunized with the epitope-KLH complex in complete Freund's adjuvant. Immunizations are repeated at intervals thereafter in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. After a minimum of seven weeks for mouse or twelve weeks for rabbit, antisera are drawn and tested for antipeptide activity. Testing involves binding the peptide to plastic, blocking with 1% bovine serum albumin, reacting with rabbit antisera, washing, and reacting with radio-iodinated goat anti-rabbit IgG. Methods well known in the art are used to determine antibody titer and the amount of complex formation.

[0263] XIII Immunopurification of Naturally Occurring Protein Using Antibodies

[0264] Naturally occurring or recombinant protein is purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using antibodies which specifically bind the protein. An immunoaffinity column is constructed by covalently coupling the antibody to CNBr-activated SEPHAROSE resin (APB). Media containing the protein is passed over the immunoaffinity column, and the column is washed using high ionic strength buffers in the presence of detergent to allow preferential absorbance of the protein. After coupling, the protein is eluted from the column using a buffer of pH 2-3 or a high concentration of urea or thiocyanate ion to disrupt antibody/protein binding, and the protein is collected.

[0265] XIV Western Analysis

[0266] Electrophoresis and Blotting

[0267] Samples containing protein are mixed in 2×loading buffer, heated to 95 C for 3-5 min, and loaded on 4-12% NUPAGE Bis-Tris precast gel (Invitrogen). Unless indicated, equal amounts of total protein are loaded into each well. The gel is electrophoresced in 1×MES or MOPS running buffer (Invitrogen) at 200 V for approximately 45 min on an Xcell II apparatus (Invitrogen) until the RAINBOW marker (APB) has resolved, and dye front approaches the bottom of the gel. The gel and its supports are removed from the apparatus and soaked in 1×transfer buffer (Invitrogen) with 10% methanol for a few minutes; and the PVDF membrane is soaked in 100% methanol for a few seconds to activate it. The membrane, gel, and supports are placed on the TRANSBLOT SD transfer apparatus (Biorad, Hercules Calif.) and a constant current of 350 mAmps is applied for 90 min.

[0268] Conjugation with Antibody and Visualization

[0269] After the proteins are transferred to the membrane, it is blocked in 5% (w/v) non-fat dry milk in 1 x phosphate buffered saline (PBS) with 0.1% Tween 20 detergent (blocking buffer) on a rotary shaker for at least 1 hr at room temperature or at 4C overnight. After blocking, the buffer is removed, and 10 ml of primary antibody in blocking buffer is added. The membrane is incubated on the rotary shaker for 1 hr at room temperature or overnight at 4C. The membrane is washed 3×for 10 min each with PBS-Tween (PBST), and secondary antibody, conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, is added at a 1:3000 dilution in 10 ml blocking buffer. The membrane and solution are shaken for 30 min at room temperature and then washed three times for 10 min each with PBST.

[0270] The wash solution is carefully removed, and the membrane is moistened with ECL+chemilum-inescent detection system (APB) and incubated for approximately 5 min. The membrane, protein side down, is placed on BIOMAX M film (Eastman Kodak) and developed for approximately 30 seconds.

[0271] XV Antibody Arrays

[0272] Protein:Protein Interactions

[0273] In an alternative to yeast two hybrid system analysis of proteins, an antibody array can be used to study protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation. A variety of protein ligands are immobilized on a membrane using methods well known in the art. The array is incubated in the presence of cell lysate until protein:antibody complexes are formed. Proteins of interest are identified by exposing the membrane to an antibody specific to the protein of interest. In the alternative, a protein of interest is labeled with digoxigenin (DIG) and exposed to the membrane; then the membrane is exposed to anti-DIG antibody which reveals where the protein of interest forms a complex. The identity of the proteins with which the protein of interest interacts is determined by the position of the protein of interest on the membrane.

[0274] Proteomic Profiles

[0275] Antibody arrays can also be used for high-throughput screening of recombinant antibodies. Bacteria containing antibody genes are robotically-picked and gridded at high density (up to 18,342 different double-spotted clones) on a filter. Up to 15 antigens at a time are used to screen for clones to identify those that express binding antibody fragments. These antibody arrays can also be used to identify proteins which are differentially expressed in samples (de Wildt, supra)

[0276] XVI Screening Molecules for Specific Binding with the cDNA or Protein

[0277] The cDNA, or fragments thereof, or the protein, or portions thereof, are labeled with ³²P-dCTP, Cy3-dCTP, or Cy5-dCTP (APB), or with BIODIPY or FITC (Molecular Probes, Eugene Oreg.), respectively. Libraries of candidate molecules or compounds previously arranged on a substrate are incubated in the presence of labeled cDNA or protein. After incubation under conditions for either a nucleic acid or amino acid sequence, the substrate is washed, and any position on the substrate retaining label, which indicates specific binding or complex formation, is assayed, and the ligand is identified. Data obtained using different concentrations of the nucleic acid or protein are used to calculate affinity between the labeled nucleic acid or protein and the bound molecule.

[0278] XVII Two-Hybrid Screen

[0279] A yeast two-hybrid system, MATCHMAKER LexA Two-Hybrid system (BD Biosciences Clontech), is used to screen for peptides that bind the mammalian protein of the invention. A cDNA encoding the protein is inserted into the multiple cloning site of a pLexA vector, ligated, and transformed into E. coli. cDNA, prepared from mRNA, is inserted into the multiple cloning site of a pB42AD vector, ligated, and transformed into E. coli to construct a cDNA library. The pLexA plasmid and pB42AD-cDNA library constructs are isolated from E. coli and used in a 2:1 ratio to co-transform competent yeast EGY48[p8op-lacZ] cells using a polyethylene glycol/lithium acetate protocol. Transformed yeast cells are plated on synthetic dropout (SD) media lacking histidine (-His), tryptophan (-Trp), and uracil (-Ura), and incubated at 30C until the colonies have grown up and are counted. The colonies are pooled in a minimal volume of 1×TE (pH 7.5), replated on SD/-His/-Leu/-Trp/-Ura media supplemented with 2% galactose (Gal), 1% raffinose (Raf), and 80 mg/ml 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl β-d-galactopyranoside (X-Gal), and subsequently examined for growth of blue colonies. Interaction between expressed protein and cDNA fusion proteins activates expression of a LEU2 reporter gene in EGY48 and produces colony growth on media lacking leucine (-Leu). Interaction also activates expression of β-galactosidase from the p8op-lacZ reporter construct that produces blue color in colonies grown on X-Gal.

[0280] Positive interactions between expressed protein and cDNA fusion proteins are verified by isolating individual positive colonies and growing them in SD/-Trp/-Ura liquid medium for 1 to 2 days at 30C. A sample of the culture is plated on SD/-Trp/-Ura media and incubated at 30C until colonies appear. The sample is replica-plated on SD/-Trp/-Ura and SD/-His/-Trp/-Ura plates. Colonies that grow on SD containing histidine but not on media lacking histidine have lost the pLexA plasmid. Histidine-requiring colonies are grown on SD/Gal/Raf/X-Gal/-Trp/-Ura, and white colonies are isolated and propagated. The pB42AD-cDNA plasmid, which contains a cDNA encoding a protein that physically interacts with the mammalian protein, is isolated from the yeast cells and characterized.

[0281] XVIII GTPAP Activity Assay

[0282] An assay for GTPAP activity measures the stimulation of intrinsic GTPase activity in a Rho GTPase. GTPase activity is using RhoA or Cdc42-GTPase is measured as described in Li et al. (1997) J Biol Chem 272:32830-32835. The assay is conducted in and absence of GTPAP and again in the presence of varying amounts of GTPAP. The amount of GTPase activity measured in the presence of GTPAP minus the amount measured in the absence of GTPAP is proportional to the activity of GTPAP in the sample.

[0283] XIX Mapping of Polynucleotides to the Colon Cancer Region of Chromosome 22

[0284] Public domain genomic DNA sequence data for chromosome 22 was obtained from Genbank and was described in Dunham, I. et al. (1999) Nature 402:489495. Incyte templates, including Incyte ID No. 440424.5 (SEQ ID NO:29), were aligned with the public domain genomic sequence using BLAST2 and a match between any two sequences was determined by a 98% identity over at least 100 bp. A region of chromosome 22 associated with colon cancer which was identified by Castells et al., supra is defined by the public domain sequence tagged sites D22S 1171 and D22S92. These markers were aligned by BLAST2 with the sequence of chromosome 22 to determine the coordinates of genomic DNA associated with this region. Genomic DNA sequences which had been matched to SEQ ID NO:29 as described above was mapped within this region.

[0285] XX Identification of Molecules Which Interact with GTPAP

[0286] GTPAP, or biologically active peptides thereof, are labeled with ¹²⁵I Bolton-Hunter reagent (Bolton et al. (1973) Biochem J 133:529-539). Candidate ligand molecules previously arrayed in the wells of a multi-well plate are incubated with the labeled GTPAP, washed, and any wells with labeled GTPAP complex are assayed. Data obtained using different concentrations of GTPAP are used to calculate values for the number, affinity, and association of GTPAP with the candidate ligand molecules.

[0287] All patents and publications mentioned in the specification are incorporated by reference herein. Various modifications and variations of the described method and system of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilled in the field of molecular biology or related fields are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.

1 33 1 476 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 908465R2 1 ctctcctgca ggcctgcgca ccgagggcct gttccggaga tccgccagcg tgcagaccgt 60 ccgcgagatc cagaggctct acaaccaagg gaagcccgtg aactttgacg actacgggga 120 cattcacatc cctgccgtga tcctgaagac cttcctgcga gagctgcccc agccgcttct 180 gaccttccag gcctacgagc agattctcgg gatcacctgt gtggagagca gcctgcgtgt 240 cactggctgc cgcagattct tacggagcct cccagagcac aactacgtcg tcctccgcta 300 cctcatgggc ttcntgcatg cggtgtcccg ggagagcatc ttnaacaaaa tgaacagctc 360 taacctggcc tgtgtcttcg ggctgaattt gatctggcat ccagggggtc tcctccctga 420 gtgcccttgt gcccctgaac atgttnactg aactgctgat cgagtactat gaaaag 476 2 321 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 957130R6 2 cagagctgtc cttcctacac ccctgttctc ctcccgggcc gggatgcagc gctgcccctg 60 gcccctctgg agctcagcag ggagccccat gcccttccag gtgtggagag cagcctgcgt 120 gtcactggct gccgccagat cttacggagc ctcccagagc acaactacgt cgtcctccgc 180 tacctcatgg gcttcctgca tgcggtgtcc cgggagagca tcttcaacaa aatgaacagc 240 tctaacctgg cctgtgtctt cgggctgaat ttgatctggc catcccaggg ggtctcctcc 300 ctgagtgccc ttgtgcccct g 321 3 195 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 1580628H1 3 atctatttca actacctgag tgagctccac gaacacctta aatacgacca gctggtcatc 60 cctcccgaag ttttgcggta cgatnagaag ctccanancc tnnacnangg ccggacgccg 120 cctcccacca agacancacc gccgcggccc ccgctgccca nanagcagtt tggcgtcagt 180 ctgcaatacc tcaaa 195 4 487 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 2631247F6 4 ccggaacaag ccttccctgg gctggctcca gagcgcatac aaggagttcg ataggaagta 60 caagaagaac ttgaaggccc tctacgtggt gcaccccacc agcttcatca aggtcctgtg 120 gaacatcttg aagcccctca tcagtcacaa gtttgggaag aaagtcatct atttcaacta 180 cctgagtgag ctccacgaac accttaaata cgaccagctg gtcatccctc ccgaagtttt 240 gcggtacgat gagaagctcc agagcctgca cgagggccgg acgccgcctc ccaccaagac 300 accaccgccg cggcccccgc tgcccacaca gcagtttggc gtcagtctgc aatacctcaa 360 agacaaaaat caaggcgaac tcatcccccc tgtgctgagg ttcacagtga cgtacctgag 420 agagaaaggc ctgcgcaccg agggcctgtt ccggagattc ggccagcgtg cagaccgtcc 480 gcngaga 487 5 259 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 3068538H1 5 gcacgtggng gccggcnggg tccgtggcca canctgcana nacacaangc ngcggcggct 60 gctgtgctgg gtgcagtgag gaacangccc tcggtggtgc ccatggctgg ccaggatcct 120 gcgctgagca cgagtcaccc gttctacgac gtggccanac atggcattct gcaggtggca 180 ggggatgacc gctttggnan acgtgttgtc acgttcagnt gctgccgnat gccaccctcc 240 cacgagctgg accaccagc 259 6 388 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 3532286T6 6 acaggngtng gaggtanctc canacacagt gttcgcaacn ctagagacgt cttctggctg 60 ccatnagggg antcggnggt agggtaggct tggtgaggcc cgnggcttgt gtccgtggca 120 cagcctcctg caaaggggct gccctgttcc cctgttccca tggtgccagg ncgtgctccc 180 caggtgcntc canggtgctg aagatctntt catagnactc gatcagcagc ncagtgaaca 240 tgttcanggg cacaagggca ctcagggagg anancccctg ggatggccag atcaaattca 300 ncccgaagac acaggccagg ttagagctgt tcattttgtt gaagangctc tcccgggaca 360 ccgnatgcag gaagcccatg angtagcg 388 7 512 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 1301520F6 7 cagcctgcgt gtcactggct gccgccagat cttacggagc ctcccagagc acaactacgt 60 cgtcctccgc tacctcatgg gcttcctgca tgcggtgtcc cgggagagca tcttcaacaa 120 aatgaacagc tctaacctgg cctgtgtctt cgggctgaat ttgatctggc catcccaggg 180 ggtctcctcc ctgagtgccc ttgtgcccct gaacatgttc actgaactgc tgatcgagta 240 ctatgaaaag atcttcagca ccccggaggc acctggggag cacggcctgg caccatggga 300 acaggggagc agggcagccc ctttgcagga ggctgtgcca cggacacaag cccacgggcc 360 tcaccaagcc taacctactc cgagtcccct gatggcagcc agaagacgtc tctagtgttg 420 cgaacactct gtatatttcg agctactccc anaactgtct gtgacttgta ngttttataa 480 acttggcatc tgtaaaaata accagcatta ga 512 8 480 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 2465422F6 8 angcgctgca ggcatgcctg gcgggggcag caggtgaggg gtcctgattt tccccgagtt 60 tatttcattc tttgtttgat gtccttaaat tgatcctgtt gagaggagta acattctgag 120 actcacagtg gaggcagctg tttcagggtt attgggcgtg gggtgtttct cggagcgcgg 180 cagcctgaag tcatcccccg tttccctcct caggtacaag nagaacttga aggccctcta 240 cgtggtgcac ccccaccagc ttcatcaagg tcctgtggaa catcttgaag cccctcatca 300 gtcacaagtt tgggaagaaa gtcatctatt tcaactacct gagtgagctc cacgaacacc 360 ttaaatanga ccagctggtc atccctcccg aagttttgcg gtacgatgag aactccagag 420 cctgcacgag ggccgggacg gcggcttcca acaagaaact tcggcggggn ccccggtgcc 480 9 655 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 957130X313V1 9 gtttgggaag aaagtcatct atttcaacta cctgagtgag ctccacgaac accttaaata 60 cgaccagctg gtcatccctc ccgaagtttt gcggtacgat gagaagctcc agagcctgca 120 cgagggccgg acgccgcctc ccaccaagac acctccgccg cggcccccgc tgcccacaca 180 gcagtttggc gtcagtctgc aatacctcaa agacaaaaat caaggcgaac tcatcccccc 240 tgtgctgggg ttcacagtga cgtactgaga gagaaaggcc tgcgcaccga ggggctgttc 300 cggagattcg ccaacgtgta gaccgtcgcg aaattcagag gtctacaacc angggagcct 360 gtgaactttg acgactacgg gggcattcac atccctgccg tgatcctgaa gaccttcctg 420 gaganttgcc caagcgnntn ttaccttcca ggcctacgag aaattctcgg ggatcactnt 480 nttganacag ctncgtgtaa ttgnttccgc cnatnttacg agctcccaga gcanaatang 540 tgtccttcgn tacctcatgg gtcctcatcg gtgtccggga agatttcaaa naaaatgaaa 600 gtntaactgg ctttgtntcg ggntnaattn atntggcaan ccaaggggnt ccccc 655 10 194 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 1580545H1 10 atctatttca actacctgag tgagctccac gaacacctta aatacgacca gctggtcatc 60 cctcccgaag ttttgcggta cgatgagaag ctccagagcc tgcacgaggg ccggacgccg 120 cctcccacca agacaccacc gccgcggccc ccgctgccca nacagcagtt tggcgtcagt 180 ctgcaatacc tcaa 194 11 281 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 1891457H1 11 gctggtcatc cctcccgaag ttttgcggta cgatgagaag ctccagagcc tgcacgaggg 60 ccggacgccg cctcccacca agacaccacc gccgcggcct ccgctgccca cacagcagtt 120 tggcgtcagt ctgcaatacc tcaaagacaa aaatcaaggc gaactcatcc cccctgtgct 180 gaggttcaca gtgacgtacc tgagagagaa aggcctgcgc accgagggcc tgttccggag 240 atccgccagc gtgcagaccg tccgcgagat ccagaggctc t 281 12 268 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 4649657H1 12 agcagtttgg cgtcagtctg caatacctca aagacaaaaa tcaaggcgaa tcatcccccc 60 tgtgctgagg ttcacagtga cgtacctgag agagaaaggc ctgcgcaccg agggcctgtt 120 ccggagatcc gccagcgtgc agaccgtccg cgagatccag aggctctaca accaagggaa 180 gcccgtgaac tttgacgact acggggacat tcacatccct gccgtgatcc tgaagacctt 240 cctgcgagag ntgccccagc cgcttctg 268 13 271 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 4002758H1 13 gggaagcncg tgaactttga cgactacggg gacattcaca tccctgccgt gatcctgaag 60 accttcctgc gaganctgcc ccagccgctt ctgaccttcc aggcctacga gcagattctn 120 gggatcacct gtatggagag cagcctgcgt gtcactggct gcngccagat cttacggngc 180 ctcccaggac ncaactacgt ngtcctccgc tacctcatgg gcttcctgca tgcggtgtcc 240 agggagagca tcttcnacaa aatgnacagc t 271 14 488 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 957130R1 14 cagagctgtc cttcctacac ccctgttctc ctcccgggcc gggatgcagc gctgcccctg 60 gcccctctgg agctcagcag ggagccccat gcccttccag gtgtggagag cagcctgcgt 120 gtcactggct gccgccagat cttacggagc ctcccagagc acaactacgt cgtcctccgc 180 tacctcatgg gcttcctgca tgcggtgtcc cgggagagca tcttcaacaa aatgaacagc 240 tctaacctgg cctgtgtctt cgggctgaat ttgatctggc catcccaggg ggtctcctcc 300 ctgagtgccc ttgtgcccct gaacatgttc actgaactgc tgatcgagta ctatgaaaag 360 atcttcagca ccccggaggc acctggngag cacggcctgg caccatggga acaggggagc 420 agggcagccc ctttgcagga ngctgtgcac ggacacaagc cacgggctca acaagctanc 480 ctacctcg 488 15 567 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 2624365T6 15 acagatgcca agtttacaaa acatacaagt gcacagacag gtgtgggagg tagctcgaaa 60 catacagagt gttcgcaaca ctagagacgt cttctggctg ccatcagggg actcggaggt 120 agggtaggct tggtgaggcc cgtggcttgt gtccgtggca cagcctcctg caaaggggct 180 gccctgctcc cctgttccca tggtgccagg ccgtgctccc cacgtgcctc cggggtgctg 240 aagatctttt catagtactc gatcagcagt tcagtgaaca tgttcagggg cacaagggca 300 ctcagggagg agaccccctg ggatggccag atcaaattca gcccgaagac acaggccagg 360 ttagagctgt tcattttgtt gaagatgctc tcccgggaca ccgcatgcag gaagcccatg 420 aggtagcgga ggacgacgta gttgtgctct gggaggctcc gtaagatctg gcggcagcga 480 gtgacgcgca ggctgctctc cacacaggtg atcccgagaa tctgctcgta ggcctggaag 540 gtcagaagcg gctggggcag ctctcgc 567 16 265 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 2044444H1 16 gcgagagctg ccccagccgc ttctgacctt ccaggcctac gagcagattc tcgggatcac 60 ctgtgtggag agcagcctgc gcgtcactcg ctgccgccag atcttacgga gcctcccaga 120 gcacaactac gtcgtcctcc gctacctcat gggcttcctg catgcggtgt cccgggagag 180 catcttcaac aaaatgaaca gctctaacct ggcctgtgtc ttcgggctga atttgatctg 240 gccatcccag ggggtctcct ccctg 265 17 518 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 3416883T6 17 tacaaaacat acaagtgcac agacaggtgt gggaggtagc tcgaaacata cagagtgttc 60 gcaacactag agacgtcttc tggctgccat caggggactc ggaggtaggg taggcttggt 120 gaggcccgtg gcttgtgtcc gtggcacagc ctcctgcaaa ggggctgccc tgctcccctg 180 ttcccatggt gccaggccgt gctccccagg tgcctccggg gtgctgaaga tcttttcata 240 gtactcgatc agcagttcag tgaacatgtt caggggcaca agggcactca gggaggagac 300 cccctgggat ggccagatca aattcagccc gaagacacag gccaggttag agctgttcat 360 tttgttgaag atgctctccc gggacaccgc atgcaggaag cccatgaggt agcggaggac 420 gacgtattgt gctctgggag gctcgtaaga tctggcggca gcagttgaca cgcaggctgc 480 tctccacacc tggaanggca tggggctccc tgctgagc 518 18 548 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 1301520T6 18 ggttctgaat tcatctaatg gctggttatt tttacagatg ccaagtttat aaaacataca 60 agtgcacaga caggtgtggg aggtagctcg aaatatacag agtgttcgca acactagaga 120 cgtcttctgg ctgccatcag gggactcgga ggtagggtag gcttggtgag gcccgtggct 180 tgtgtccgtg gcacagcctc ctgcaaaggg gctgccctgc tcccctgttc ccatggtgcc 240 aggccgtgct ccccaggtgc ctccggggtg ctgaagatct tttcatagta ctcgatcagc 300 agttcagtga acatgttcag gggcacaagg gcactcaggg aggagacccc ctgggatggc 360 cagatcaaat tcagcccgaa gacacaggcc aggttagagc tgttcatttt gttgaagatg 420 ctctcccggg acaccgcatg caggaagccc atgaggtagc ggaggacgac gtattgtgct 480 ctgggaggct ccgtaagatc tggcggcanc agtgacacgc aggctggaat tcgaattccg 540 agcttacg 548 19 244 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 1301520H1 19 cagcctgcgt gtcactggct gccgccagat cttacggagc ctcccagagc acaactacgt 60 cgtcctccgc tacctcatgg gcttcctgca tgcggtgtcc cgggagagca tcttcaacaa 120 aatgaacagc tctaacctgg cctgtgtctt cgggctgaat ttgatctggc catcccaggg 180 ggtctcctcc ctgagtgccc ttgtgcccct gaacatgttc actgaactgc tgatcgagta 240 ctat 244 20 521 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 1422635X305D1 20 cattagaagg ttctgaattc atctaatggc tggttatttt tacagatgcc aagtttacaa 60 aacatacaag tgcacagaca ggtgtgggag gtagctcgaa acatacagag tgttcgcaac 120 actagagacg tcttctggct gccatcaggg gactcggagg tagggtaggc ttggtgaggc 180 ccgtggcttg tgtccgtggc acagcctcct gcaaaggggc tgccctgctc ccctgttccc 240 atggtgccag gccgtgctcc ccaggtgcct ccggggtgct gaagatcttt tcatagtact 300 cgatcagcag ttcagtgaac atgttcaggg gcacaagggc actcagggag gagaccccct 360 gggatggcca gatcaaattc agcccgaaga cacaggccag gttagagctg ttcattttgt 420 tgaagatgct ctcccgggac accgcatgca ggagcccatg aggtagcgga ggacgacgta 480 gttgtgctct gggangctcc gtaaatcttg cggcancant g 521 21 213 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature Incyte ID No 701244926H1 21 ccggcctgcc ctggggccag ccaggtgtgc ggctagagta gctgagatca ggagaggtgc 60 tcggtggacc gagctgcaga gacaaggaag cagcagccac actgagggcc acaggaggac 120 cctcagtggt gttcatggct ggcctggacc ccacgctgag cacaagtcac ccattctatg 180 atgtggccag acacggcatc ctgcaggtgg cag 213 22 273 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature Incyte ID No 700950169H2 22 ctggggccag ccaggtgtgc ggctagagta gctgagatca ggagaggtgc tcggtggtcc 60 gagctgcaga gacaaggaag cagcagccac actgagggcc acaggaggac cctcagtggt 120 gttcatggct ggcctggacc ccacgctgag cacaagtcac ccattctatg atgtggccag 180 tcacggcatc ctgcaggtgg caggggatga ccgccagggg agacgcatct tcactttcag 240 ctgctgccgg ttgccaccct tgcaccagct caa 273 23 325 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature Incyte ID No 701575974H1 23 cagcccctcc caccaagacg ccgccacctc ggccgcctct gcctacccag cagttcggcg 60 tcagtttgca atacctcaga gacaaaaatc aaggtgaact catcccccct gtgctgcgtt 120 ggacggtgac atatctgaga gaaaaaggac tgcacactga aggcctgttc cggagatcag 180 ccagcgccca gactgtccgc caggtgcagc ggctctatga tcaagggaag cctgtgaact 240 ttgatgatta tggtgacatg cacctcccag ctgtgattct aaagacattt cttcgagagc 300 tgccccagcc actgctgacc ttcca 325 24 233 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature Incyte ID No 701274036H1 24 atcaaggtga actcatcccc cctgtgctgc gttggacggt gacatatctg agagaaaaag 60 ggaagcctgt gaactttgat gattatggcg acatgcacct cccagctgtg attctaaaga 120 catttcttcg agagctgccc cagccactgc tgaccttcca agcctacgag cagattctcg 180 ggatcaccag tgtggagagc agcctgcgag tgacccactg ccgcctgatc ctg 233 25 128 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature Incyte ID No 700480528H1 25 cctgaggagc ctcccagaac acaactatgc cgtcctccgc tacctcatgg gcttcctgca 60 tgaggtgtct ctggagagca ttccaaacaa gatgaacagc tctaacctgg catgtgtgtt 120 tgggctga 128 26 212 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature Incyte ID No 700935753H1 26 tttcaaacaa gatgaacagc tctaacctgg catgtgtgtt tgggctgaac ttgatctggc 60 catcccaggg ggtggcttcc ctgagcgccc tggttcctct gaacttgttc acagagctgc 120 tgatagagta ctatgacaaa gtcttcagtg cccaggaggg ccctggggag cacatccggg 180 atactgtcga aacgaaacag gctggtcctg tt 212 27 251 DNA Rattus norvegicus misc_feature Incyte ID No 700936061H1 27 tttcaaacaa gatgaacagc tctaacctgg catgtgtgtt tgggctgaac ttgatctggc 60 catcccaggg ggtggcttcc ctgagcgccc tggttcctct gaacttgttc acagagctgc 120 tgatagagta ctatgacaaa gtcttcagtg cccaggaggg ccctggggag cacatccggg 180 atactgtcga aacgaaacag gctggtcctg ttaccaaaga attcacacag acgggcactc 240 cccgggcctc a 251 28 1549 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 3068538CB1 28 gcagacccgg cacgcaggtg ggggccggcg gggtccgtgg ccagagctgc agagagacaa 60 ggcggcggcg gctgctgtgc tgggtgcagt gaggaagagg ccctcggtgg tgcccatggc 120 tggccaggat cctgcgctga gcacgagtca cccgttctac gacgtggcca gacatggcat 180 tctgcaggtg gcaggggatg accgctttgg aagacgtgtt gtcacgttca gctgctgccg 240 gatgccaccc tcccacgagc tggaccacca gcggctgctg gagtatttga agtacacact 300 ggaccaatac gttgagaacg attataccat cgtctatttc cactacgggc tgaacagccg 360 gaacaagcct tccctgggct ggctccagag cgcatacaag gagttcgata ggaagtacaa 420 gaagaacttg aaggccctct acgtggtgca ccccaccagc ttcatcaagg tcctgtggaa 480 catcttgaag cccctcatca gtcacaagtt tgggaagaaa gtcatctatt tcaactacct 540 gagtgagctc cacgaacacc ttaaatacga ccagctggtc atccctcccg aagttttgcg 600 gtacgatgag aagctccaga gcctgcacga gggccggacg ccgcctccca ccaagacacc 660 tccgccgcgg cccccgctgc ccacacagca gtttggcgtc agtctgcaat acctcaaaga 720 caaaaatcaa ggcgaactca tcccccctgt gctgaggttc acagtgacgt acctgagaga 780 gaaaggcctg cgcaccgagg gcctgttccg gagatccgcc agcgtgcaga ccgtccgcga 840 gatccagagg ctctacaacc aagggaagcc cgtgaacttt gacgactacg gggacattca 900 catccctgcc gtgatcctga agaccttcct gcgagagctg ccccagccgc ttctgacctt 960 ccaggcctac gagcagattc tcgggatcac ctgtgtggag agcagcctgc gtgtcactgg 1020 ctgccgccag atcttacgga gcctcccaga gcacaactac gtcgtcctcc gctacctcat 1080 gggcttcctg catgcggtgt cccgggagag catcttcaac aaaatgaaca gctctaacct 1140 ggcctgtgtc ttcgggctga atttgatctg gccatcccag ggggtctcct ccctgagtgc 1200 ccttgtgccc ctgaacatgt tcactgaact gctgatcgag tactatgaaa agatcttcag 1260 caccccggag gcacctgggg agcacggcct ggcaccatgg gaacagggga gcagggcagc 1320 ccctttgcag gaggctgtgc cacggacaca agccacgggc ctcaccaagc ctaccctacc 1380 tccgagtccc ctgatggcag ccagaagacg tctctagtgt tgcgaacact ctgtatattt 1440 cgagctacct cccacacctg tctgtgcact tgtatgtttt ataaacttgg catctgtaaa 1500 aataaccagc cattagatga attcagaacc ttctaatgaa aaaaaaaaa 1549 29 1539 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 404424.5 29 gcagacccgg cacgcaggtg ggggccggcg gggtccgtgg accagagctg cagagagaca 60 aggcggcggc ggctgctgtg ctgggtgcag tgaggaagag gccctcggtg gtgcccatgg 120 ctggccagga tcctgcgctg agcacgagtc acccgttcta cgacgtggcc agacatggca 180 ttctgcaggt ggcaggggat gaccgctttg gaagacgtgt tgtcacgttc agctgctgcc 240 ggatgccacc ctcccacgag ctggaccacc agcggctgct ggagtatttg aagtacacac 300 tggaccaata cgttgagaac gattatacca tcgtctattt ccactacggg ctgaacagcc 360 ggaacaagcc ttccctgggc tggctccaga gcgcatacaa ggagttcgat aggaagtaca 420 agaagaactt gaaggccctc tacgtggtgc accccaccag cttcatcaag gtcctgtgga 480 acatcttgaa gcccctcatc agtcacaagt ttgggaagaa agtcatctat ttcaactacc 540 tgagtgagct ccacgaacac cttaaatacg accagctggt catccctccc gaagttttgc 600 ggtacgatga gaagctccag agcctgcacg agggccggac gccgcctccc accaagacac 660 caccgccgcg gcccccgctg cccacacagc agtttggcgt cagtctgcaa tacctcaaag 720 acaaaaatca aggcgaactc atcccccctg tgctgaggtt cacagtgacg tacctgagag 780 agaaaggcct gcgcaccgag ggcctgttcc ggagatccgc cagcgtgcag accgtccgcg 840 agatccagag gctctacaac caagggaagc ccgtgaactt tgacgactac ggggacattc 900 acatccctgc cgtgatcctg aagaccttcc tgcgagagct gccccagccg cttctgacct 960 tccaggccta cgagcagatt ctcgggatca cctgtgtgga gagcagcctg cgcgtcactc 1020 gctgccgcca gatcttacgg agcctcccag agcacaacta cgtcgtcctc cgctacctca 1080 tgggcttcct gcatgcggtg tcccgggaga gcatcttcaa caaaatgaac agctctaacc 1140 tggcctgtgt cttcgggctg aatttgatct ggccatccca gggggtctcc tccctgagtg 1200 cccttgtgcc cctgaacatg ttcactgaac tgctgatcga gtactatgaa aagatcttca 1260 gcaccccgga ggcacctggg gagcacggcc tggcaccatg ggaacagggg agcagggcag 1320 cccctttgca ggaggctgtg ccacggacac aagccacggg cctcaccaag cctaccctac 1380 ctccgagtcc cctgatggca gccagaagac gtctctagtg ttgcgaacac tctgtatgtt 1440 tcgagctacc tcccacacct gtctgtgcac ttgtatgttt tgtaaacttg gcatctgtaa 1500 aaataaccag ccattagatg aattcagaac cttctaatg 1539 30 433 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 3068538CD1 30 Met Ala Gly Gln Asp Pro Ala Leu Ser Thr Ser His Pro Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15 Asp Val Ala Arg His Gly Ile Leu Gln Val Ala Gly Asp Asp Arg 20 25 30 Phe Gly Arg Arg Val Val Thr Phe Ser Cys Cys Arg Met Pro Pro 35 40 45 Ser His Glu Leu Asp His Gln Arg Leu Leu Glu Tyr Leu Lys Tyr 50 55 60 Thr Leu Asp Gln Tyr Val Glu Asn Asp Tyr Thr Ile Val Tyr Phe 65 70 75 His Tyr Gly Leu Asn Ser Arg Asn Lys Pro Ser Leu Gly Trp Leu 80 85 90 Gln Ser Ala Tyr Lys Glu Phe Asp Arg Lys Tyr Lys Lys Asn Leu 95 100 105 Lys Ala Leu Tyr Val Val His Pro Thr Ser Phe Ile Lys Val Leu 110 115 120 Trp Asn Ile Leu Lys Pro Leu Ile Ser His Lys Phe Gly Lys Lys 125 130 135 Val Ile Tyr Phe Asn Tyr Leu Ser Glu Leu His Glu His Leu Lys 140 145 150 Tyr Asp Gln Leu Val Ile Pro Pro Glu Val Leu Arg Tyr Asp Glu 155 160 165 Lys Leu Gln Ser Leu His Glu Gly Arg Thr Pro Pro Pro Thr Lys 170 175 180 Thr Pro Pro Pro Arg Pro Pro Leu Pro Thr Gln Gln Phe Gly Val 185 190 195 Ser Leu Gln Tyr Leu Lys Asp Lys Asn Gln Gly Glu Leu Ile Pro 200 205 210 Pro Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Val Thr Tyr Leu Arg Glu Lys Gly Leu 215 220 225 Arg Thr Glu Gly Leu Phe Arg Arg Ser Ala Ser Val Gln Thr Val 230 235 240 Arg Glu Ile Gln Arg Leu Tyr Asn Gln Gly Lys Pro Val Asn Phe 245 250 255 Asp Asp Tyr Gly Asp Ile His Ile Pro Ala Val Ile Leu Lys Thr 260 265 270 Phe Leu Arg Glu Leu Pro Gln Pro Leu Leu Thr Phe Gln Ala Tyr 275 280 285 Glu Gln Ile Leu Gly Ile Thr Cys Val Glu Ser Ser Leu Arg Val 290 295 300 Thr Gly Cys Arg Gln Ile Leu Arg Ser Leu Pro Glu His Asn Tyr 305 310 315 Val Val Leu Arg Tyr Leu Met Gly Phe Leu His Ala Val Ser Arg 320 325 330 Glu Ser Ile Phe Asn Lys Met Asn Ser Ser Asn Leu Ala Cys Val 335 340 345 Phe Gly Leu Asn Leu Ile Trp Pro Ser Gln Gly Val Ser Ser Leu 350 355 360 Ser Ala Leu Val Pro Leu Asn Met Phe Thr Glu Leu Leu Ile Glu 365 370 375 Tyr Tyr Glu Lys Ile Phe Ser Thr Pro Glu Ala Pro Gly Glu His 380 385 390 Gly Leu Ala Pro Trp Glu Gln Gly Ser Arg Ala Ala Pro Leu Gln 395 400 405 Glu Ala Val Pro Arg Thr Gln Ala Thr Gly Leu Thr Lys Pro Thr 410 415 420 Leu Pro Pro Ser Pro Leu Met Ala Ala Arg Arg Arg Leu 425 430 31 433 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No 404424.5.pseq 31 Met Ala Gly Gln Asp Pro Ala Leu Ser Thr Ser His Pro Phe Tyr 1 5 10 15 Asp Val Ala Arg His Gly Ile Leu Gln Val Ala Gly Asp Asp Arg 20 25 30 Phe Gly Arg Arg Val Val Thr Phe Ser Cys Cys Arg Met Pro Pro 35 40 45 Ser His Glu Leu Asp His Gln Arg Leu Leu Glu Tyr Leu Lys Tyr 50 55 60 Thr Leu Asp Gln Tyr Val Glu Asn Asp Tyr Thr Ile Val Tyr Phe 65 70 75 His Tyr Gly Leu Asn Ser Arg Asn Lys Pro Ser Leu Gly Trp Leu 80 85 90 Gln Ser Ala Tyr Lys Glu Phe Asp Arg Lys Tyr Lys Lys Asn Leu 95 100 105 Lys Ala Leu Tyr Val Val His Pro Thr Ser Phe Ile Lys Val Leu 110 115 120 Trp Asn Ile Leu Lys Pro Leu Ile Ser His Lys Phe Gly Lys Lys 125 130 135 Val Ile Tyr Phe Asn Tyr Leu Ser Glu Leu His Glu His Leu Lys 140 145 150 Tyr Asp Gln Leu Val Ile Pro Pro Glu Val Leu Arg Tyr Asp Glu 155 160 165 Lys Leu Gln Ser Leu His Glu Gly Arg Thr Pro Pro Pro Thr Lys 170 175 180 Thr Pro Pro Pro Arg Pro Pro Leu Pro Thr Gln Gln Phe Gly Val 185 190 195 Ser Leu Gln Tyr Leu Lys Asp Lys Asn Gln Gly Glu Leu Ile Pro 200 205 210 Pro Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Val Thr Tyr Leu Arg Glu Lys Gly Leu 215 220 225 Arg Thr Glu Gly Leu Phe Arg Arg Ser Ala Ser Val Gln Thr Val 230 235 240 Arg Glu Ile Gln Arg Leu Tyr Asn Gln Gly Lys Pro Val Asn Phe 245 250 255 Asp Asp Tyr Gly Asp Ile His Ile Pro Ala Val Ile Leu Lys Thr 260 265 270 Phe Leu Arg Glu Leu Pro Gln Pro Leu Leu Thr Phe Gln Ala Tyr 275 280 285 Glu Gln Ile Leu Gly Ile Thr Cys Val Glu Ser Ser Leu Arg Val 290 295 300 Thr Arg Cys Arg Gln Ile Leu Arg Ser Leu Pro Glu His Asn Tyr 305 310 315 Val Val Leu Arg Tyr Leu Met Gly Phe Leu His Ala Val Ser Arg 320 325 330 Glu Ser Ile Phe Asn Lys Met Asn Ser Ser Asn Leu Ala Cys Val 335 340 345 Phe Gly Leu Asn Leu Ile Trp Pro Ser Gln Gly Val Ser Ser Leu 350 355 360 Ser Ala Leu Val Pro Leu Asn Met Phe Thr Glu Leu Leu Ile Glu 365 370 375 Tyr Tyr Glu Lys Ile Phe Ser Thr Pro Glu Ala Pro Gly Glu His 380 385 390 Gly Leu Ala Pro Trp Glu Gln Gly Ser Arg Ala Ala Pro Leu Gln 395 400 405 Glu Ala Val Pro Arg Thr Gln Ala Thr Gly Leu Thr Lys Pro Thr 410 415 420 Leu Pro Pro Ser Pro Leu Met Ala Ala Arg Arg Arg Leu 425 430 32 333 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No g6572185 32 Tyr Lys Lys Asn Leu Lys Ala Leu Tyr Val Val His Pro Thr Ser 1 5 10 15 Phe Ile Lys Val Leu Trp Asn Ile Leu Lys Pro Leu Ile Ser His 20 25 30 Lys Phe Gly Lys Lys Val Ile Tyr Phe Asn Tyr Leu Ser Glu Leu 35 40 45 His Glu His Leu Lys Tyr Asp Gln Leu Val Ile Pro Pro Glu Val 50 55 60 Leu Arg Tyr Asp Glu Lys Leu Gln Ser Leu His Glu Gly Arg Thr 65 70 75 Pro Pro Pro Thr Lys Thr Pro Pro Pro Arg Pro Pro Leu Pro Thr 80 85 90 Gln Gln Phe Gly Val Ser Leu Gln Tyr Leu Lys Asp Lys Asn Gln 95 100 105 Gly Glu Leu Ile Pro Pro Val Leu Arg Phe Thr Val Thr Tyr Leu 110 115 120 Arg Glu Lys Gly Leu Arg Thr Glu Gly Leu Phe Arg Arg Ser Ala 125 130 135 Ser Val Gln Thr Val Arg Glu Ile Gln Arg Leu Tyr Asn Gln Gly 140 145 150 Lys Pro Val Asn Phe Asp Asp Tyr Gly Asp Ile His Ile Pro Ala 155 160 165 Val Ile Leu Lys Thr Phe Leu Arg Glu Leu Pro Gln Pro Leu Leu 170 175 180 Thr Phe Gln Ala Tyr Glu Gln Ile Leu Gly Ile Thr Cys Val Glu 185 190 195 Ser Ser Leu Arg Val Thr Gly Cys Arg Gln Ile Leu Arg Ser Leu 200 205 210 Pro Glu His Asn Tyr Val Val Leu Arg Tyr Leu Met Gly Phe Leu 215 220 225 His Ala Val Ser Arg Glu Ser Ile Phe Asn Lys Met Asn Ser Ser 230 235 240 Asn Leu Ala Cys Val Phe Gly Leu Asn Leu Ile Trp Pro Ser Gln 245 250 255 Gly Val Ser Ser Leu Ser Ala Leu Val Pro Leu Asn Met Phe Thr 260 265 270 Glu Leu Leu Ile Glu Tyr Tyr Glu Lys Ile Phe Ser Thr Pro Glu 275 280 285 Ala Pro Gly Glu His Gly Leu Ala Pro Trp Glu Gln Gly Ser Arg 290 295 300 Ala Ala Pro Leu Gln Glu Ala Val Pro Arg Thr Gln Ala Thr Gly 305 310 315 Leu Thr Lys Pro Thr Leu Pro Pro Ser Pro Leu Met Ala Ala Arg 320 325 330 Arg Arg Leu 33 439 PRT Homo sapiens misc_feature Incyte ID No g312212 33 Met Asp Pro Leu Ser Glu Leu Gln Asp Asp Leu Thr Leu Asp Asp 1 5 10 15 Thr Ser Glu Ala Leu Asn Gln Leu Lys Leu Ala Ser Ile Asp Glu 20 25 30 Lys Asn Trp Pro Ser Asp Glu Met Pro Asp Phe Pro Lys Ser Asp 35 40 45 Asp Ser Lys Ser Ser Ser Pro Glu Leu Val Thr His Leu Lys Trp 50 55 60 Asp Asp Pro Tyr Tyr Asp Ile Ala Arg His Gln Ile Val Glu Val 65 70 75 Ala Gly Asp Asp Lys Tyr Gly Arg Lys Ile Ile Val Phe Ser Ala 80 85 90 Cys Arg Met Pro Pro Ser His Gln Leu Asp His Ser Lys Leu Leu 95 100 105 Gly Tyr Leu Lys His Thr Leu Asp Gln Tyr Val Glu Ser Asp Tyr 110 115 120 Thr Leu Leu Tyr Leu His His Gly Leu Thr Ser Asp Asn Lys Pro 125 130 135 Ser Leu Ser Trp Leu Arg Asp Ala Tyr Arg Glu Phe Asp Arg Lys 140 145 150 Tyr Lys Lys Asn Ile Lys Ala Leu Tyr Ile Val His Pro Thr Met 155 160 165 Phe Ile Lys Thr Leu Leu Ile Leu Phe Lys Pro Leu Ile Ser Phe 170 175 180 Lys Phe Gly Gln Lys Ile Phe Tyr Val Asn Tyr Leu Ser Glu Leu 185 190 195 Ser Glu His Val Lys Leu Glu Gln Leu Gly Ile Pro Arg Gln Val 200 205 210 Leu Lys Tyr Asp Asp Phe Leu Lys Ser Thr Gln Lys Ser Pro Ala 215 220 225 Thr Ala Pro Lys Pro Met Pro Pro Arg Pro Pro Leu Pro Asn Gln 230 235 240 Gln Phe Gly Val Ser Leu Gln His Leu Gln Glu Lys Asn Pro Glu 245 250 255 Gln Glu Pro Ile Pro Ile Val Leu Arg Glu Thr Val Ala Tyr Leu 260 265 270 Gln Ala His Ala Leu Thr Thr Glu Gly Ile Phe Arg Arg Ser Ala 275 280 285 Asn Thr Gln Val Val Arg Glu Val Gln Gln Lys Tyr Asn Met Gly 290 295 300 Leu Pro Val Asp Phe Asp Gln Tyr Asn Glu Leu His Leu Pro Ala 305 310 315 Val Ile Leu Lys Thr Phe Leu Arg Glu Leu Pro Glu Pro Leu Leu 320 325 330 Thr Phe Asp Leu Tyr Pro His Val Val Gly Phe Leu Asn Ile Asp 335 340 345 Glu Ser Gln Arg Val Pro Ala Thr Leu Gln Val Leu Gln Thr Leu 350 355 360 Pro Glu Glu Asn Tyr Gln Val Leu Arg Phe Leu Thr Ala Phe Leu 365 370 375 Val Gln Ile Ser Ala His Ser Asp Gln Asn Lys Met Thr Asn Thr 380 385 390 Asn Leu Ala Val Val Phe Gly Pro Asn Leu Leu Trp Ala Lys Asp 395 400 405 Ala Ala Ile Thr Leu Lys Ala Ile Asn Pro Ile Asn Thr Phe Thr 410 415 420 Lys Phe Leu Leu Asp His Gln Gly Glu Leu Phe Pro Ser Pro Asp 425 430 435 Pro Ser Gly Leu 

What is claimed is:
 1. A purified protein comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31.
 2. A biologically active portion of the protein of claim 1 wherein the portion is selected from residue L₈ to residue S₁₆₉, from residue P₂₁₀ to residue A₂₃₅, and from residue L₃₁₀ to residue L₃₅₀ of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31.
 3. An antigenic epitope of the protein of claim 1 wherein the epitope extends from residue G₂₇ to residue P₄₅ of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31.
 4. A variant having at least 65% homology to the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31.
 5. A composition comprising the protein of claim 1 and a labeling moiety.
 6. A composition comprising the protein of claim 1 and a pharmaceutical carrier.
 7. A substrate upon which the protein of claim 1 is immobilized.
 8. An array element comprising the protein of claim
 1. 9. A method for detecting expression of a protein in a sample, the method comprising: a) performing an assay to determine the amount of the protein of claim 1 in a sample; and b) comparing the amount of protein to standards, thereby detecting expression of the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31 in the sample.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the assay is selected from antibody or protein arrays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, spatial immobilization such as 2D-PAGE and scintillation counting, high performance liquid chromatography, or mass spectrophotometry, radioimmunoassays and western analysis.
 11. The method of claim 9 wherein the sample is from colon.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the protein is differentially expressed when compared with at least one standard and is diagnostic of cancer.
 13. A method for using a protein to screen a plurality of molecules and compounds to identify at least one ligand, the method comprising: a) combining the protein of claim 1 with a plurality of molecules and compounds under conditions to allow specific binding; and b) detecting specific binding, thereby identifying a ligand that specifically binds the protein.
 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the molecules and compounds are selected from agonists, antibodies, small drug molecules, multispecific molecules, peptides, and proteins.
 15. A method for using a protein to identify an antibody that specifically binds the protein comprising: a) contacting a plurality of antibodies with the protein of claim 1 under conditions to allow specific binding, and b) detecting specific binding between an antibody and the protein, thereby identifying an antibody that specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of antibodies are selected from a polyclonal antibody, a monoclonal antibody, a chimeric antibody, a recombinant antibody, a humanized antibody, a single chain antibody, a Fab fragment, an F(ab′)₂ fragment, an Fv fragment; and an antibody-peptide fusion protein.
 17. A method of using a protein to prepare and purify a polyclonal antibody comprising: a) immunizing a animal with a protein of claim 1 under conditions to elicit an antibody response; b) isolating animal antibodies; c) attaching the protein to a substrate; d) contacting the substrate with isolated antibodies under conditions to allow specific binding to the protein; and e) dissociating the antibodies from the protein, thereby obtaining purified polyclonal antibodies.
 18. A method of using a protein to prepare a monoclonal antibody comprising: a) immunizing a animal with a protein of claim 1 under conditions to elicit an antibody response; b) isolating antibody-producing cells from the animal; c) fusing the antibody-producing cells with immortalized cells in culture to form monoclonal antibody producing hybridoma cells; d) culturing the hybridoma cells; and e) isolating from culture monoclonal antibody that specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 or SEQ ID NO:31.
 19. A method for using a protein to diagnose a cancer comprising: a) performing an assay to quantify the expression of the protein of claim 1 in a sample; and b) comparing the expression of the protein to standards, thereby diagnosing cancer.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the sample is from colon.
 21. A method for testing a molecule or compound for effectiveness as an antagonist comprising: a) exposing a sample comprising the protein of claim 1 to the molecule or compound; and b) detecting antagonist activity in the sample.
 22. A method for testing a molecule or compound for effectiveness as an agonist comprising: a) exposing a sample comprising the protein of claim 1 to the molecule or compound; and b) detecting agonist activity in the sample.
 23. An isolated antibody that specifically binds a protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30.
 24. A polyclonal antibody produced by the method of claim
 17. 25. A monoclonal antibody produced by the method of claim
 18. 26. A method for using an antibody to detect expression of a protein in a sample, the method comprising: a) combining the antibody of claim 23 with a sample under conditions which allow the formation of antibody:protein complexes; and b) detecting complex formation, wherein complex formation indicates expression of the protein in the sample.
 27. The method of claim 26 wherein the sample is from colon.
 28. The method of claim 26 wherein complex formation is compared with standards and is diagnostic of cancer.
 29. A method for using an antibody to immunopurify a protein comprising: a) attaching the antibody of claim 23 to a substrate; b) exposing the antibody to a sample containing protein under conditions to allow antibody:protein complexes to form; c) dissociating the protein from the complex; and d) collecting the purified protein.
 30. A composition comprising an antibody of claim 23 and a labeling moiety.
 31. A kit comprising the composition of claim
 30. 32. An array element comprising the antibody of claim
 23. 33. A substrate upon which the antibody of claim 23 is immobilized.
 34. A composition comprising an antibody of claim 23 and a pharmaceutical agent.
 35. The composition of claim 34 wherein the composition is lyophilized.
 36. A method for using a composition to assess efficacy of a molecule or compound, the method comprising: a) treating a sample containing protein with a molecule or compound; b) contacting the protein in the sample with the composition of claim 30 under conditions for complex formation; c) determining the amount of complex formation; and d) comparing the amount of complex formation in the treated sample with the amount of complex formation in an untreated sample, wherein a difference in complex formation indicates efficacy of the molecule or compound.
 37. A method for using a composition to assess toxicity of a molecule or compound, the method comprising: a) treating a sample containing protein with a molecule or compound; b) contacting the protein in the sample with the composition of claim 30 under conditions for complex formation; c) determining the amount of complex formation; and d) comparing the amount of complex formation in the treated sample with the amount of complex formation in an untreated sample, wherein a difference in complex formation indicates toxicity of the molecule or compound.
 38. A method for treating a cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention the antibody of claim
 23. 39. A method for treating a cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention the antibody of claim
 25. 40. A method for treating a cancer comprising administering to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention the composition of claim
 34. 41. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a cell comprising: a) attaching the therapeutic agent to a multispecific molecule identified by the method of claim 13; and b) administering the multi specific molecule to a subject in need of therapeutic intervention, wherein the multispecific molecule specifically binds the protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 thereby delivering the therapeutic agent to the cell.
 42. The method of claim 40, wherein the cell is an epithelial cell of the colon.
 43. An agonist that specifically binds the protein of claim
 1. 44. A composition comprising an agonist of claim 43 and a pharmaceutical carrier.
 45. An antagonist that specifically binds the protein of claim
 1. 46. A composition comprising the antagonist of claim 44 and a pharmaceutical carrier.
 47. A pharmaceutical agent that specifically binds the protein of claim
 1. 48. A composition comprising the pharmaceutical agent of claim 47 and a pharmaceutical carrier.
 49. A small drug molecule that specifically binds the protein of claim
 1. 50. A composition comprising the small drug molecule of claim 49 and a pharmaceutical carrier.
 51. An antisense molecule of 18 to 30 nucleotides in length that specifically binds a portion of a polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:30 wherein the antisense molecule inhibits expression of the protein encoded by the polynucleotide.
 52. The antisense molecule of claim 51 wherein the antisense molecule comprises at least one modified internucleoside linkage.
 53. The antisense molecule of claim 52 wherein the modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate linkage.
 54. The antisense molecule of claim 51 wherein the antisense molecule contains at least one nucleotide analog.
 55. The antisense molecule of claim 54 wherein the nucleotide analog is a 5-methylcytosine. 